What are Labor Unions and why did they develop?

Pullman Strike◦ Strike by railway

workers◦ President Grover

Cleveland sends in troops to break strike

◦ Proved that government favored business over labor

Haymarket Square Riot◦ Labor rally in

Chicago◦ Ended with a bomb

blast and riot leaving many dead (7 police officers)

◦ Knights of Labor were blamed for casualties

Monopolies restricted competition

Abuse of natural resources

Corporate wealth & power increased

Social Darwinism

60 hour week Unsafe, unhealthy

conditions No guarantees –

little job security Low wages Women & children

made even less

Industries unrestrained

Courts failed to support fair standards

Laissez-faire

FARMERS PROTESTS THE IMPORTANCE OF A THIRD POLITICAL

PARTY Increased circulation of money unlimited minting of silver progressive income tax government ownership of national

communication and transportation

Tax on imported goods-◦ discourages buying foreign goods and promotes domestic industry

farmers hurt◦raised prices of manufactured goods

◦reduced international market for American farm products

The Grange◦farmers formed cooperatives

◦common political causes

◦social outlet

Farmers Alliance◦Federal regulation of railroads

◦more money in circulation

◦women played a major role

Protect Social Welfare

Promote Moral Improvement

Reform corruption in government

Create economic reform

Journalists & writers

Artist & photographers

Investigated & exposed corruption & injustices

Pure Food & Drug Act

Meat Inspection Act

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

Jacob Riis

Social Gospel

Building codes◦ Better lighting◦ Better ventilated◦ More sanitary

Settlement houses

Education, child care, social activities, Help finding jobs

Hull House – Chicago – Jane Addams

Political machines and bosses controlled local governments

These bosses earned votes by doing favors for people

Often these bosses accepted bribes and kickbacks

William M. Tweed controlled the New York City police, courts and newspapers

Accepted millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks

Went to jail in 1872

The practice of appointing people to public office on the basis of a personal relationship, rather than merits.

Pendleton Act - created the Civil Service Commission ◦Created an exam for Federal jobs

Wisconsin Idea- direct primary elections Seventeenth Amendment- direct election of

Senators Oregon System

◦initiative- voters could place issue on ballot◦referendum- voters could accept or reject laws◦recall- chance to remove unsatisfactory

elected officials

1902 United Mine Workers Strike ◦Teddy Roosevelt insisted that mine owners negotiate with union

1906 Hepburn Act- ◦government regulates railroad rates

1906 Pure Food and Drug Act - ◦regulates food industry

1890 SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT By 1909 the government had filed 42 antitrust actions

Beef trust, Standard Oil and American Tobacco Industry broken up or reorganized

“SQUARE DEAL”- helps UnionsTRUSTBUSTER- attempted to break up 42 different trusts

CONSERVATIONIST- set aside 200 million acres for conservation

Teddy Roosevelt returns

◦tariff reduction◦women’s suffrage◦regulation of business◦end child labor◦eight hour work day◦workers compensation◦direct election of Senators – 17th Amendment