BigBusinessandOrganizedLabor v Whatfactorsfueledthegrowthofthepost-CivilWareconomy? v Whatwerethemethodsandachievementsofmajorentrepreneurs? v Whatledtotheriseoflargelaborunions? TheRiseofBigBusiness • • • • TheIndustrialRevolutioncreatedhugecorporationsthatcametodominatetheeconomy,politicallife,and sociallifeduringthelatenineteenthcentury. o Desireforverticalintegration—onecompanydoeseverythingfromstarttofinish o Efforttodominateentireindustries Manyfactorsconvergedtohelplaunchthedramaticbusinessgrowthafterthecivilwar o Nationwideshortageoflabor—motivatedinventorsandbusinessownerstodevelopmoreefficient machinery o Technologicalinnovations—advancedproductivity o Largerbusinessesexpandedintonumerousstates—standardizedmachinery o Determinedentrepreneurstookadvantage o Federalandstatepoliticiansencouragedgrowthofbusinessbyimposinghightariffsandmakinginternal improvements Agriculturalsectorfueledtherestoftheeconomy o Providedwheatandcornforprocessing o Slaughteringandpackingindustry o Networkofrailroadsconnectedthecoasts Abundanceofpowersources:water,coal,oil,electricitywood—inexpensive TheSecondIndustrialRevolution • FirstIndustrialRevolutionwaspropelledbycoalpower,textilemachines,andblastfurnaces—centeredinUK • SecondIndustrialRevolutionwaspropelledbyinnovations,inventions,machinery,chemicals—centeredin USAandGermany o Formedtheeconomyandsocietyintourban-industrialform • ThreerelateddevelopmentsinSecondIndustrialRevolution o Creationofinterconnectednationaltransportation § ledtonationalmarket § Telegraphlines,railroadsystems,steamships,underseatelegraphcable o Useofelectricpoweracceleratedchange § Advancesinefficiency § Electrictrolleys,subways o Applicationofscientificresearchtoindustrialprocesses § newresearchuniversities § improvedtechniquesforrefining § Expandedscopeandscaleofindustrialorganization IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com BuildingtheTranscontinentalRailroads • Railroadswerethefirstbigbusiness,firsttoattractfinancialmarkets,firsttodeveloplarge-scalebureaucracy o Openedthewesttoindustrialdevelopment • RenewalofrailroadbuildingaftertheCivilWarfilledouttherailnetworkeastoftheMississippiRiver o Mostspectacularexploitswerethemonumentaltranscontinentallinesbuiltthroughmountains,over rivers,andacrossplains o Railroadsboundthecountrytogether—governmentsupportinformofloans,grants,subsidies • BeforetheCivilWar,sectionaldifferencesoverthechoiceofrouteshadheldupthestartofthe transcontinentalline o SecessionallowedpermittedpassageofPacificRailroadsAct—authorizedalinealonganorth-central routetobebuiltbytheUnionPacificRailroadandCentralPacificRailroadfromOmahatoSacramento o Constructionoftheraillineandbridgeswashastyandflimsy § Entrepreneursdrivenbywealthfromgovernmentsubsidies,paidpermileoftrack • TheUnionPacificworkcrews—ex-soldiers,formerslaves,IrishandGermanimmigrants—hadtocopewith badroads,watershortages,extremeweather,andIndianattacks • TheCentralPacificCrewswerecomposedmainlyofChineseworkers—“coolies” o Chinesewereintentonaccumulatingmoneyandreturningtohomeland • Allsortsofissuesdelayedefforttofinishthetranscontinentalline o Ironpricesspiked o BrokentreatiespromptedIndianraids o Blizzards o UnionPacificcoveredmoremiles,raceendedin1869 • Thenexttranscontinentallinewascompletedin1881,linkedAtchisonandTopeka—SanteFeRailroadand SouthernPacificRailroad o SouthernPacifichadabsorbedCentralPacific o NorthernPacificconnectedLakeSuperiortoOregon o GreatNorthernconnectedSt.PaulandTacoma,Washington • Beforetheturnofthecentury,fivemajorlinesexisted FinancingtheRailroads • Builtbyprivatecompaniesthatraisedmoneyforconstructionbysellingrailroadbonds • In1850,SenatorStephenDouglassecuredgovernmentlandgrantsforrailroads • Railroadsreceivedmassivefinancialaidfromfederal,state,andlocalgovernments o Altogether,railroadsreceived$707millionincashand$355millioninland • Federalgovernmentrecovereditsinvestmentsandlinkedthecountry o Valueoflandnearrailroadsincreased o Railroadsbenefittedpublicbyhaulinggovernmentfreight,militaryitems,andmailforhalffare o Acceleratedcreationofnationmarket o Increasedgovernmentrevenues • Theshadypracticesofrailroadexecutivesearnedthemthelabelofrobberbarons o Drivenbygreed o CréditMobilierofAmericabribedcongressmenandchargedUnionPacificunjustly • ThePrinceoftherailroadrobberbaronswasJayGould o Usedcorporatefundsforpersonalinvestmentandbribes IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com • o Builtafortunebymovingfromenterprisetoenterprise CorneliusVanderbiltstandsoutamongtherailroadbarons o Hedecidedtogiveuphazardsofwartimeshippinginfavoroflandtransport o MergedseparatetrucklinesconnectingAlbanytoBuffalointoasinglenetworkledbyNewYorkCentral o CompetedwithErieRailroad o BoughtLakeShoreandMichiganSouthernRailroad,whichgavehislinesconnectionstoChicagomarket o Consolidationtrend ManufacturingandInventions • Newprocessesinsteelmakingandoilrefiningenabledthoseindustriestoflourish • TherefrigeratedrailcarallowedmeatintheWesttoreachpackinghouses • CorrugatedrollerscouldcrackwheatoftheGreatPlains—flourmillinginMinneapolisunderPillsbury • GeorgeWestinghouse’sairbrake,ChristopherShole’stypewriter,IvesMcGaffey’svacuumcleaner • Technologicaladvancesalteredthedailylivesofordinarypeople o AlexanderGrahamBell’stelephonein1876 § BellTelephoneCompany § CompetitioncamefromWesternUnion—employedThomasEdison § AmericanTelephoneandTelegraphCompanyemergedfromboth • ThomasEdisoninventedphonographin1877,lightbulbin1879,perfectedhundredsofdevices • EdisonElectricIlluminatingCompanybegantosupplyelectricalcurrenttocustomersinNewYorkCity • ManycompaniesemergedintoEdisonGeneralElectricCompanyin1888 o GeorgeWestinghouseinventedalternating-currentsystemtoallowgreatersupplyrange o SetupWestinghouseElectricCompany—wonagainstEdisondirectcurrent o Factoriesnolongerhadtoclusteraroundpowerplants Entrepreneurs • • • • • JohnD.Rockefellerdominatedoilindustry o RailroadandshippingcenterinCleveland,Ohiomadeitanidealspotforoil § ClevelandhadtheedgeintransportationoverPittsburgh o Asoilcouldberefinedintokerosene,economicimportanceofoilrushoutweighedgoldrush Rockefellerrecognizedthepotentialprofitsofrefiningoil—incorporatedinvestmentsintoStandardOil CompanyofOhio o Decidedtoweedoutcompetition—offeredtobuyout o By1879,StandardOilcontrolled95%ofoilrefininginthecountry Rockefeller’ssuccesswasbasedondeterminationto“paynobodyaprofit” o StandardOiltookchargeofentireproduction—nomiddlemen o Verticalintegration o Thecompanykeptlargecashreserves Alsocontrolledtransportation o Ownershipofownpipelinesandrailroads Inefforttoconsolidatemoreenterprises,Rockefellerusedanewlegaldevice:thetrust o Usedtocentralizecontrolofbusiness o OrganizedStandardOilTrust IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com • • § All37stockholdersconveyedtheirstocktoninetrustees Trustdevicewaslegallyvulnerabletoprosecutionunderstatelawsagainstmonopolies o 1892:OhioSupremeCourtorderedStandardOilTrusttobedissolved o RockefellerbroughthisentireempireunderStandardOilCompanyofNewJersey o SomeholdingswerebrokenoffbytheShermanAnti-TrustActof1890 Rockefellerdonatedmuchofhisfortunetoeducationandmedicine CarnegieandtheSteelIndustry • AndrewCarnegieexperiencedatypicalrisefrompovertytoricheslikeRockefeller • Movedfromtelegraphytorailroadingtobridgebuildingandthentosteelmaking o Steelwasthemiraclematerial—cheap o HenryBessemerinventedBessemerconverter,withwhichsteelcouldbeproduceddirectlyfromiron • Carnegiewasapromoted,salesman,organizer—notatechnicalexpertonsteel o Purchasedstrugglingcompaniesduringrecession o Insistedonup-todatemachinery • Carnegiestoodoutfromotherbusinesstitansasathinkerwhofashionedandpublicizedaphilosophyforbig business o Believedthathoweverharshtheirmethodswere,captainsofindustrywerepublicbenefactors o “TheGospelofWealth”arguedthatinevolutionofsocietythecontrastbetweenmillionaireand laborersmeasuresthedistancesocietyhadcome • Dispensedfortuneforthepublicgoodafterretirement o Calledhimself“distributor”insteadofphilanthropist o Gavemoneytohospitals,universities,churchbuildings,etc. J.P.Morgan,Financier • J.P.Morganwasbornintowealth,unlikeRockefellerandCarnegie • EstablishedJ.PiermontMorganandCompany—channeledEuropeancapitalintotheUS • Morganwasaninvestmentbanker o Boughtandsoldstocksforprofit o GrowthoflargecorporationsputMorgan’sinvestmentfirminfavorableposition o Investmentbankersbecameinvolvedintheoperationoftheirclientfirms • UnlikeRockefeller,J.P.Morganviewedcompetitionaswastefulandchaoticandsoughttoconsolidaterival firmsintogianttrusts o Morgan’scrowningtriumphwasconsolidationofsteelindustry § BoughtoutCarnegie’ssteel,Rockefeller’sironholdings1901 § CombinedintoUnitedStatesSteelCorporation—firstbilliondollarcorporation SearsandRoebuck • Mostimportantchallengewasextendingthereachofnationalcommercetothepeoplewholivedonisolated farmsandtowns o AaronWarddecidedthathecouldreachmorepeoplebymailthanonfootandthuseliminatemiddle man o MontgomeryWardandCompanybegansellinggoodsat40percentdiscountthroughmail-order catalogs IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com • • Sears,RoebuckandCompanycametodominatemail-orderindustry o FoundedbyRichardSearsandAlvahRoebuck o Groceries,drugs,tools,furniture,stoves,householditems,clothes,books,sportinggoods Searscataloghelpedcreatenationalmarket o Familiesonfarmsandsmalltownscouldpurchaseproductbymail LaborConditionsandOrganization SocialTrends • Risingstandardofliving o However,disparitiesindistributionofwealthdidnotdisappear o Richest2%ofAmericanfamiliesownedmorethan1/3ofthenation’swealth o Upwardmobilityfromlowtohighrankjobswascommon • Continuingdemandforunskilledorsemiskilledworkersattractednewworkforce o Immigrants,women,children o Realwagesandearningwentupabout50%by1890andanother37&by1914 o Wagesincreasedduetodeclineinpricesandcostofliving • Workingconditionsweredreary o 59-hourworkweek • Althoughwageswererisingoverall,workingandlivingconditionsremainedpoor o Highdeathrateincities o Poorhealthandsafetyconditionsinfactories o TheUnitedStateswastheonlyindustrialnationintheworldthathadnoworkmen’scompensation o Highestaccidentrateintheworld o Impersonaljobs—machinery,bureaucracy,contractual ChildLabor • Growingnumberofchildwagelaborers o Operatingmachines,diggingcoal,stitchingshoes,peelingshrimp,canningfood,blowingglass o Parentsweredesperateforincome o 1880oneofsixchildrenwereworkingfull-time o Insoutherncottonmills,childrenwereemployedinsteadofAfricanAmericans o Littleeducation • Factories,mills,mines,canneriesweredangerous o Respiratorydiseases,poortreatment o Statelawslimitinghourswerenotenforcedwell DisorganizedProtest • Civicleadersrespectedpropertyrightsmorethantherightsoflabor o Businessmenbelievedthata“laborsupply”wassimplyanothercommodity o Ideaoflaborunionswasslowtotakehold—immigrantswereunaccustomed o Impromptustrikesledtoviolence—threesignificantincidences IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com TheMollyMaguires • ReignofterrorinPennsylvaniacoalfields—IrishMollyMaguires o Motivatedbydangerousworkconditionsinmines o Molliesusedintimidationandviolencetorightperceivedwrongs o Mineownershireddetectivestostopmovement o MollyMaguireswereconvicted,manyhanged,wagesreduced,destructionofMiners’National Association TheRailroadStrikeof1877 • GreatRailroadStrikeof1877wasmorewidespread,firstmajorinterstatestrikeinAmericanhistory o Afterdepressionof1873,raillinescutwages;wagescutfurtherin1877 o Withoutorganizeddirection,rebelliousworkersdegeneratedintoamob o Burnedandplunderedrailroadproperty • Federaltroopsquelledviolence o Publicopinionwassympathetictotheworkersatfirst,butlaterblamedthemforviolence o Strikefailed o Raisedideaofworker-basedrevolution o Womenamongprotesters o Demonstratedunionstrengthdependedonneedforleadership TheSand-LotIncident • AmeetingtoexpresssympathyfortherailroadstrikersendedwithattacksonsomepassingChinese o Anti-ChineseriotsinCalifornia o Depressionof1870smadetheChinesescapegoats • DenisKearneyorganizedWorkingmen’sPartyofCalifornia o PlatformcalledforendtoChineseimmigration o Criticized“sand-lotters”andassaultedrichrailroadbarons o Managedtogainstatelawtoregulaterailroads—ineffectivethough o Workingmen’smovementpeakedin1879 o Partydisintegratedbutanti-ChinesethemeledtolawprohibitingChineseimmigrationfortenyears TowardPermanentUnions • Earlyeffortstoformunionshaddiversemotives • Inlatenineteenthcentury,craft-specificunionsformed o UnionsgrewinstrengthduringCivilWarduetodemandforlabor • 1866:NationalLaborUnionconvened o Composedofdelegatesfromlaborandreformgroups o Moreinterestedinpoliticalandsocialreformthanbargainingwithemployers o Greenbackism,equalrightsforwomenandblacks,8-hourworkday o Supportdiedafterheadoftheuniondied—disbandedin1872 o ItwasinfluentialinpersuadingCongresstoenactan8-hourworkdayforfederalemployeesandto repealthe1864ContractLaborAct,passedduringtheCivilWartoencourageimportationoflaborers TheKnightsofLabor • TheNobleOrderoftheKnightsofLabor—foundedbyUriahStephens IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com Secrecywouldprotectmembersfromretaliationbyemployersandcreatesolidarity KnightsofLaborgrewasotherunionscollapsed Endorsedreformsincludingcreationofbureausoflaborstatistics,ensuredpaymentofsalaries, eliminationofconvict-laborcompetition,8-hourworkday,papercurrency,equalworkformenand women Emphasizedreformmeasuresandpreferredboycotts TerencePowderlysucceededUriahStephens o Frail,sensitivetocriticism,indecisive—butincreasedmembershipoccurredduetostrikesledbyhim o Declinedafterfailedrailroadstrike o o o • • Anarchism • Tensionbetweenlaborandmanagementgenerateddoctrineofanarchism o Believedthatgovernmentwasadeviceusedbyrichtooppresspoor o Favoredtacticwastheuseofdramaticactsofviolenceagainstgovernmentrepresentatives o Europeananarchistsimmigrated TheHaymarketAffair • Laborviolenceincreasedduringthe1880s o Haymarketaffairgrewdirectlyoutofagitationfor8-hourworkday o Chicagobecamethecenterofthemovement—InternationalHarvesterplantbecamethesiteofclash betweenstrikersandpolicemen—onestrikerkilled • Anarchistleadersprotestedkilling o Policecalledmeetingtodisperse—bombthrownatpolice,policefiredonmob o Manywereconvicted,fourhanged • TriggeredwidespreadrevulsionattheKnightsofLaborandlaborgroupsingeneral o TerencePowderlycouldnotmakedistinctionbetweenKnightsandanarchistsapparent • ReasonsforthedeclineoftheKnights o Fearoftheirsupposedradicalism o Leadershipdevotedtoreformratherthanorganization o FailureoftheKnights’cooperativeenterprises o Preoccupationwithpolitics • AchievementsoftheKnights o CreationofthefederalBureauofLaborStatistics o ForanActof1885—penalizedemployerswhoimportedcontractlabor(weaklyenforced) o 1880nationallawprovidingforthearbitrationoflabordisputes o Spreadideaofunionism—industrialunioncomposedofskilledandunskilledworkers GompersandtheAFL • Thecraftunionsopposedindustrialunionism o Craftunionorganizedworkerswhosharedspecialskills o Leadersofcraftunionsfearedthatjoiningwithunskilledworkerswouldmeanlossofthecraft’sidentity o DelegatesformedAmericanFederationofLaborin1886 § DifferedinstructurefromKnightsofLabor—federationofnationalorganizations § Eachorganizationhadautonomy,morefocusedonmanagementorganization IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com • • • SamuelGompersservedaspresidentoftheAFL o UnlikePowderlyandKnightsofLabor,hefocusedonconcreteeconomicgains,higherwages,shorter hours,betterconditions o Avoidedinvolvementwithutopianideasorpolitics GomperswasmoresuitedthanPowderlyforunionism o Usedstrikestoachievefavorabletradeagreements § Closedshops:couldonlyhireunionmembers § Union-preferenceshops:couldhireothersonlyifnounionmemberswereavailable TheAFLgrewslowlybutreachedpeakofmillionmembersin1920 o Organizedlabor’sstrongholdswereintransportationandbuildingtrades o AFLhadgreatestsuccessinorganizingskilledworkers,eventhoughindustrialworkersjoined TheHomesteadStrike • Twoviolentincidentsinthe1890sstalledindustrial-unionmovement o Homesteadsteelstrikeof1892andPullmanstrikeof1894 • TheAmalgamatedAssociationofIronandSteelWorkerswasthelargestcraftunionatthetime o Excludedunskilledworkers,failedtoorganizelargersteelplants o HomesteadWorksatPittsburghwasexception—unionhadenjoyedfriendlyrelationwithCarnegie’s companyuntilHenryClayFrickbecamepresidentin1889 • Companyannouncedthatitwouldtreatworkersasindividuals o Strikebegan,Frickwasinnomoodtonegotiate—fencebuiltandPinkertondetectiveshired,“FortFrick” o Battlebrokeout—Pinkertonssurrendered o Localsympathyforstrikersevaporated ThePullmanStrike • Pullmanstrikeof1894wasmostnotablewalkoutinAmericanhistory o Paralyzedeconomiesofmanystatesandterritories o DisputeinPullman,Illinois—PullmanPalaceCarCompany § Employeesrequiredtolivethere,payrentsandutility,buygoodsfromcompanystores o StrikebeganafterPullmanfiredthreemembersofaworkers’grievancecommittee • Duringthistenseperiod,PullmanworkersjoinedAmericanRailwayUnion,foundedbyEugeneDebs o EugeneDebs:spokespersonforlaborradicalism,launchedcrusadetoorganizeallrailwayworkers • PullmanunionworkersstoppedhandlingPullmanrailcars o Railroadexecutivesbroughtstrikebreakersbecausefederalmailwasinterrupted o StrikersrefusedDebs’spleaforboycott—theyassaultedemployees,destroyedproperty • PresidentClevelandsentfederaltroops—dutytoensuredeliveryofmail o Attorneygeneralwonaninjunctionforbiddinganyinterferencewiththemailorefforttorestrain commerce—strikesviolatedtheinjunction o Unioncalledoffthestrike o Debsarrestedforviolationoftheinjunction o InreDebs:nationalgovernmenthasrighttointerveneifobstructionstofreedomoccur MotherJones • Oneofthemostbelovedagitators IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com • • • • o Usedrhetoric,ledmarches,dodgedbullets,servedinjail,confrontedbusinesstitans,courageous o Angryatsocialinequalityandinjustice—driftedintolabormovement Declaredherself“mother”ofthelabormovement o JoinedKnightsofLabor,becamespeakerforUnitedMineWorkers,etc. o Recruitedmembers,supportedstrikers,servedinjail,scoldedpoliticians Promotedhigherwages,shorterhours,saferworkplaces,restrictionsonchildlabor o ArrestedinWestVirginia—publicopinionsupportedher o Senatecommitteewasspurredtoinvestigateconditionsofcoalmines o Governorsetherfree Determinedtoendchildlabor o Pennsylvaniastatelegislatureraisedlegalworkingagetofourteenasaresultofhermarches MotherJoneslostmostofthestrikessheparticipatedin o Overherlife,wagesincreased,workingconditionsimproved,childlabordiminished o “Prayforthedeadandfightlikehellfortheliving.” SocialismandtheUnions • Majorunionsneveralliedwithsocialists o MarxismcamewithGermanimmigrants o KarlMarx’sInternationalWorkingmen’sAssociation—FirstInternationalgotlittlesupportinAmerica o FollowersofMarxinAmericanformedSocialistLaborparty—dominatedbyGermans • SocialistmovementgainedlittlenoticeuntilriseofDanielDeLeon—editorofMarxistnewspaper:ThePeople o DanielDeLeonbecamedominantfigureofSocialistLaborParty o Proposedtoorganizeindustrialunionswiththesocialistpurposeandbuildpoliticalpartythatwould abolishgovernment o Anti-violence • EugeneDebswasmoresuccessfulthanDeLeonatbuildingsocialistmovement o OrganizedSocialDemocraticpartyfromremnantsofAmericanRailwayUnionin1897 o SetupSocialistPartyofAmericain1898 • By1912theSocialistpartyseemedwellonthewaytobecomingapermanentgroup o Socialistmayorsemerged o FarmersandtenantsjoinedSocialistsintheSouthwest o Peakreachedin1912—wreckedbydisagreementsoverWWI TheWobblies • Parallelefforttoreviveindustrialunionismemerged,ledbyIndustrialWorkersoftheWorld(IWW) o BasewastheWesternFederationofMiners o Centerofviolentconfrontationswithmineoperators o OpposedAFL’sphilosophyoforganizingunionsmadeupofonlyskilledworkers o EugeneDebsjoined,DanielDeLeonjoined,usedopportunitytostrikebackagainstcraftunionism • IWWwagedclasswar o Designedtobe“onebigunion”likeKnightsofLabor—includingallskilllevels o rootsinminingandlumbering o RevolutionarygoaloftheWobblies(IWW)wasideaofsyndicalism § Ultimatedestructionofgovernment IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com • • • • • § Replacementofgovernmentbyunion Likeotherradicalgroups,IWWsplitbysectariandisputes o Majorfounderswithdrew o William“BigBill”Haywoodremainedandclaimedleadership § DespisedAFLandconservativelaborpolicy § InsteadoffollowingGomper’sadvicetoorganizeonlyskilledworkers,Haywoodpromoted conceptofoneall-inclusiveuniondedicatedtosocialism MigratoryworkersoftheWestandethnicgroupsoftheEast Engagedinbattlebutrarelywon FadingofWobblieswasacceleratedbyoppositionitaroused o Memberswereanarchists,bums,criminals o IWWendedduringWWI o Leadersjailedforconspiracy—militantoppositiontowar Wobbliesleftbehindfolkloreofnomadicworkingmenandheroicagitators o ElizabethFlynn:chainedherselftolampposttoimpedeherarrestduringstrike o JoeHillwasamartyr o Ideaofclasslesssocietydidnotdie IshmamAhmed;Ishmam.com
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz