1926 Strike as an Attempted Revolution The General Strike of May 1926 was the biggest industrial stoppage in British history. This showdown between the TUC and the British Government was presented by the latter as a trial of strength between the representatives of free democracy and revolutionary bully-boys. However, even though the tactics of the General Strike were intended to intimidate the government, in no way could they be viewed as revolutionary that is, a coordinated attempt to overthrow the British government and replace it with a socialist workers' state. The leaders of the strike, the TUC, were at constant pains to stress that their aims were industrial, not political, and certainly not revolutionary, despite what the government propaganda said. The TUC explicitly stated, when they called the General Strike, that its aims were to protect the working conditions of the miners only. The TUC leaders, who had been reluctant to call the Strike, continually tried to make the strike as respectable as possible. The General Council were not revolutionaries: they were responsible and moderate men, anxious that the strides made by trade unionists over the previous decades would not be destroyed. They were reluctant to take sympathetic action in the first place and had no wish to see the strike produce bitter and violent confrontation. The strike was simply an industrial dispute and the General Council was keen to make it appear as respectable as possible. They even declined a donation from Russian trade unions of 2 million roubles, the equivalent of £26,000. It clearly suited the government to present the strikers as potential ... ... middle of paper ... ...ence may flare up thus passing initiative to the revolutionary leaders. Their strike was often compared to the Russian Revolution which did not at all reflect the moderate aims of the British workers. In the years after the Strike, there was no political manifestation of frustrated revolutionary socialism. The Union movement actually making more moderate. Fewer strikes were called. The Labour Party continued to stress its slow, reformist democratic path to building socialism. In reality, the British working class remained relatively conservative between the two world wars in comparison to their continental brothers. Baldwin's Conservative government was able to pass the Trades Disputes Act in 1927. This act effectively made another attempt at a General Strike illegal and put the Unions firmly back in their place.
Not everyone agreed and supported the cause of the strike. There were workers that did not want to get involved, and there were people bullying the strikers for striking and trying all kind of methods to get the strikers to give up the strike. There were threats, and things said and done as part of the struggle to gain forces on both sides. The use of violent type tactics were being used on a regular basis and people were getting hurt.
The Pullman Strike of 1894 was the first national strike in American history and it came about during a period of unrest with labor unions and controversy regarding the role of government in business.5 The strike officially started when employees organized and went to their supervisors to ask for a lowered rent and were refused.5 The strike had many different causes. For example, workers wanted higher wages and fewer working hours, but the companies would not give it to them; and the workers wanted better, more affordable living quarters, but the companies would not offer that to them either. These different causes created an interesting and controversial end to the Pullman strike. Because of this, questions were raised about the strike that are still important today. Was striking a proper means of getting what the workers wanted? Were there better means of petitioning their grievances? Was government intervention constitutional? All these questions were raised by the Pullman Strike.
This type of strike would be similar to something unions would embrace today. Things changes when it seemed the Carnegie Steel was going to try and bring in replacement workers for those on strike. The company was within limits of the law if they brought non-union members in to work. The first official battle occurred on July 6 because it was discovered that 300 Pinkerton detectives were coming ashore from up the river to the Carnegie Mills. The union workers were then going to seize the mills and keep out all people working for Carnegie. They were going to take control of the facility in order to try and persuade management to agree to their terms. The union members were aware of replacements coming in and planned to stop them at all costs. At this point gunfire began from parties on either side; both the strikers and the detectives. It was never clearly recorded who took the first shot, but more union members were in trouble than anyone else. About 11 men died, two from the Pinkertons and 9 from the union. An incredibly large number of men on both sides were also injured from the battle. In the days following the battle, it was discussed between the AA and the company to end the rioting that had begun yet there were no signs of the strike stopping. Militia was called in and remained for a while, and troops were given warrants to arrest members of the strike for murder and other crimes. However, the
against their employers, employees were able to go on strike and prove a point. Some
Wolff provides a brief account of social and technological forces affecting membership and national authority of the steel union, violence and government intervention during the strike, and the profits of Carnegie and Frick and losses of union leaders during the strike’s aftermath.
The Causes of Popular Protests Between 1815 and 1822 There are several causes of popular protest in this period as at this time there was considerable discontent which was the ultimate product of the industrial revolution and post-war depression. However the government often instead of making the situation better they made it a lot worse which encouraged popular protests for reform. One of the major factors contributing to this discontent and causing protests was the fact that Britain had changed from an agricultural nation to an large industrial power in the space of a extremely short time this changed average peoples lives drastically as many people moved from the country into the city in search of work but this only made their lives even worse because they often lived in poverty surviving on the most basic wage supplemented by truck shop tokens which they could exchange for food in the company owned shop which was often expensive and of poor quality. Their accommodation was also no better as they lived in factory owned housing which was cramped, dirty and ridden with damp as they were built as cheaply as possible.
The 1920s for the United States was a time of change. New changes politically, socially, and economically had impacted the American society in several ways, both good and bad. The changes had led to positive things for the US, including a growing economy, new technology, and more rights for women. On the downside, the new changes in the US had caused racial competition and tension over labor and other opportunities that had been created in the US.
There was a huge revolution in the country of Mexico that started in the year 1910, led by Porfirio Diaz, the president of Mexico in 1910. In the 1860’s Diaz was important to Mexican politics and then was elected president in 1877. Diaz said that he would only be president for one year and then would resign, but after four years he was re-elected as the President of Mexico. Porfirio Diaz and the Mexican revolution had a huge impact on the country of Mexico that is still felt in some places today.
Factories were known for their ill treatment of their employees, long hours and dirty and unsafe conditions. In 1866, unions started to form to improve working conditions for the workers. A fundamental problem faced by democratic societies is as long as people live their lives individually and go their separate ways and be selfish individuals, they are unlikely to meet collectively to resolve issues. There needs to be meaningful unity among people to alleviate this problem to get people obliged to one another, so there is a willingness to sacrifice for shared goals. Bonding of its citizens creates a democracy. Unions seemed to offer the middle class a chance to become a crucial part of fostering institutions of constitutional democracy. The unions have went through several transitions, but have always worked for the working force. I will discuss the history of the various unions, their wins and losses, and the struggle of the employee to achieve democracy in the workplace.
In 1867, George Pullman founded a car company that grew rapidly fast. Twenty years went by and it turned into one of highly ranked railroad car company in the United States. Pullman town was then created for his workers, with specific rules and limitations. But when the gilded age started to take effect, Pullman continued to charge his workers twenty five percent more for rent compared to typical neighborhoods. Men and women struggled with low wages, industrial issues, racism, inequalities and unfair laws; it was a challenge to live. They did not receive enough pay to support people who had a family nor was worth the time and labor for the low income they received. Despite the discrepancy the workers and farmers faced dealing with inequality from the government and owners, the Pullman strike was successful in awakening americans to realize that labor issues are long overdue of reform. To gain political and economic power, industrialist, men and women formed collective groups
The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.
... (Piven & Cloward, 18) Workers protest by striking against their employer, it is easier for employees to protest because they are all located and working together under one roof and are fighting for one thing, and that one thing is related to the workplace. While it is easier for employees to protest, it is not that easy for lower class employees to protest because they have little ability to protect themselves against their institutional managers. When the lower class workers have an informal organizational protest the government is eventually stepping in to disarm the protestors and make efforts to conciliate, “…mobs of unemployed were granted relief in the 1930s…” (Piven & Cloward, 29) The protests cause disruption and sometimes that disruption can make a change but when people are protesting blindly they are more prone to social injustice then making a change.
A gun strapped on her back, with bandoliers across her chest. She is dressed in a blouse and flowing skirt, paired with a fearless expression. She embodies the spirit of the significant volume of Soldaderas, or female soldiers, who risked their lives and fought and worked in the Mexican Revolution between 1911 and 1920. This image is often used to depict women who looked beyond the four walls of their home and attempted to stand equal to men. Women prior to the Mexican Revolution lived in the stereotypical role of the homemaker and obedient wife; however, during the Mexican Revolution, the role of the woman transformed as they served in many different roles in the political, social, and economic spheres. Adelitas and Soldaderas often came from poor farming communities, and had caught up with the excitement of the revolution. The war widened gender roles and women actively participated as nurses, propagandists, and even soldiers. Although given microscopic recognition compared to their male counterparts, women successfully transformed not only the Mexican Revolution, but also their standings in the political and social spectrum of Mexico.
The revolution of 1848 encompassed many of the European countries. The revolutions sweeping across Europe included Germany, Italy, and France, excluding Russia and England. Many historians refer to the year of 1848 as, “The Year of Revolutions”, because of how the revolts spread throughout Europe. The question is which political groups were the influence behind this revolution and what were the causes of the revolution. The revolution united many diverse groups of people; they were able to put aside their differences to move toward the greater good of the society as a whole. Perhaps, the revolution was about basic human survival, by means of having adequate food, shelter and the basic supplies to live; and political upheaval to make changes in the government.(“Revolutions of 1848”)
The National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) had a strike thinking it would defeat the Tory government and Margaret Thatcher. The NUM wanted to promote more socialism in Britian with more nationalization of industry and more control of industry by labor. Because Mrs. Thatcher’s policies were exactly the opposite, his efforts were directed at toppling her Conservation administration.