The Rise of Organized Labor
The Rise of Organized Labor
1700’s
* Independent Craftsmen from guilds * 1776: Three important documents written that express man’s right to life, liberty, and equality * Wealth of Nations – Adam Smith [outlines capitalism] * Common Sense – Thomas Paine [democracy] * Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson [out from Common Sense] * Our responsibility to do what is best for us, and we have the right to do whats best for us. * Closely tied to unionization * 1791: Slater’s Mill * Samuel Slater- very successful, hired entire families * Families lived in housing owned by factory, towns basically run by factory * Factory system and child labor * By 1820, ½ nation’s factory workers are children [child labor] * Early beginnings of specialized workers
1800’s * Workers forbidden by law to form unions to increase wages * Still formation of guilds and craft alliances * Laws that forbidden unions * Unions are interruptions in capitalist system * Two things that determine price – how many people can do it, and how badly it is needed * Skilled men could build unions to protect trade, no workers * Some attempts at forming unions * Tailors, shoe makers, still no industrial unions * 1820s to 30s: Advent of Jacksonian Democracy * Universal manhood suffrage * Workers now have right to vote * “Workingmen’s party” will eventually become the Democratic party * Goals of workingman’s parties: * 10 hour workday, higher wages, better conditions, public education for kids, an end to debtor prisons * 1830s to 40s: Labor strikes * At risk of prosecution * Most causes lost because it’s illegal! * Employers fought back with “scabs” * Labor will always be against immigration – cheap unskilled labor * By 1830: circa 30,000 trade unionists * By 1835 only 24 recorded strikes
1700’s
* Independent Craftsmen from guilds * 1776: Three important documents written that express man’s right to life, liberty, and equality * Wealth of Nations – Adam Smith [outlines capitalism] * Common Sense – Thomas Paine [democracy] * Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson [out from Common Sense] * Our responsibility to do what is best for us, and we have the right to do whats best for us. * Closely tied to unionization * 1791: Slater’s Mill * Samuel Slater- very successful, hired entire families * Families lived in housing owned by factory, towns basically run by factory * Factory system and child labor * By 1820, ½ nation’s factory workers are children [child labor] * Early beginnings of specialized workers
1800’s * Workers forbidden by law to form unions to increase wages * Still formation of guilds and craft alliances * Laws that forbidden unions * Unions are interruptions in capitalist system * Two things that determine price – how many people can do it, and how badly it is needed * Skilled men could build unions to protect trade, no workers * Some attempts at forming unions * Tailors, shoe makers, still no industrial unions * 1820s to 30s: Advent of Jacksonian Democracy * Universal manhood suffrage * Workers now have right to vote * “Workingmen’s party” will eventually become the Democratic party * Goals of workingman’s parties: * 10 hour workday, higher wages, better conditions, public education for kids, an end to debtor prisons * 1830s to 40s: Labor strikes * At risk of prosecution * Most causes lost because it’s illegal! * Employers fought back with “scabs” * Labor will always be against immigration – cheap unskilled labor * By 1830: circa 30,000 trade unionists * By 1835 only 24 recorded strikes