government policies were making the credit problems worse. The severe economic downturn was going to cause political and social changes which lasted for decades beyond the end of the depression in 1879. The Panic of 1873 resulted in labor unrest, violent strikes, political upheaval, huge concentrations of wealth, and desperate migrations to Indian-populated parts of the West, and ended the Reconstruction-Era protections for blacks in the South. The United States economy had become so co-dependent with other
of Pittsburgh on July 21, 1877, an enormous failing. The Pennsylvania Railroad's PRR massive railroad yards were engulfed by a sea of fire. "Strong men halted with fear," one witness later recalled, "while others ran to and fro trampling upon the killed and wounded." The conflagration that raged that hot summer night was the result of a long-simmering crisis in the lives of American working men and women.The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the angry response of railroad workers to wage reductions
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, which began on July 16th 1877, was the first national labor strike in the United States. The strike spread along the network of American railroad lines. Unorganized railroad workers, reacting to pay cuts and a loss of control to their company bosses demanded a work stoppage that was meant to halt all railroad traffic. Railway officials attempted to keep the trains running with militia and replacement workers but failed at the outset because of increasing popular
problems ranged from being replaced by machines to the introduction of corporations. Even though the laborers had to face these problems, many of them address these problems. They addressed the problems by creating unions and by having strikes. Even if the unions or strikes were successful or not, they laborers always strived for better living. Works Cited Tindall, George Brown., and David E. Shi. America a Narrative History. 8th ed. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2007. Print. Farless, Patricia
various strikes and protests to show their viewpoint in the hopes that they would be noticed. In their first attempt to get noticed, workers formed the National Labor Union in 1866. This union joined together various workers in order to create a group that would fight for what they wanted: higher wages and shorter workdays. As the years went by, the National Labor Union did their best in trying to achieve their goals, all while other groups took the matters into their own hands. In 1877, in what
change the labor conditions in the 1800s. Many people organized unions and strikes to fight unfair labor practices. The first union was the Knights Of Labor, created by Terence Powderly, which was composed of both skilled and unskilled
Another disruption in the lives of many Americans was the centralization of various railroads. A perfect example of this is Cornelius Vanderbilt, who ruthlessly expanded his railroad empire in New York by combining the New York Central and Hudson River into the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad (“Inventing the Big Businessman”). He also pursued the Erie Railroad, which he did not capture. Vanderbilt’s attempts to capture the entire railway system reflected his desires to become a master
were over 32 national unions. There were several specific labor unions and strikes that affected the general public. In 1866, the National Labor Union was formed. Their main goal was the 8-hour work day. The National Labor Union did have some setbacks in achieving this goal; one in partic... ... middle of paper ... ...e general public was finally beginning to recognize that workers had the right to both organize and strike. The federal government was also taking note of the plight of factory
Industrialism and its many consequences had an impact on many groups and individuals during the 1877-1919-time period. Industrialism is a social or economic system built on manufacturing industries. Some of the groups that industrialism had an impact on are the steel workers and immigrant families. Before the time period of 1877-1919 the economy was based on farming and agriculture. As technology began to advance the steel industry began to take off. This created a change where this industrial revolution
majority, who remained quiet. Eventually, many people rose up against the employers, riots and collective strikes stroke the country, many people protested against the treatment they got from the capitalists. As Jeremy Brecher explains in The Great Upheaval, it all started in July 1877 when many strikes were held across America. The workers halted the operations of the most important business, the railroads. They fought the police, the state militia, and even the federal troops. Chicago was a major production
the courage to join in. Eventually, many people rose up against the employers, riots and collective strikes stroke the country, as many people protested against the treatment they got from the capitalists. As Jeremy Brecher explains in The Great Upheaval, it all started in July 1877 when many strikes were help across America. The workers halted the operations of the most important company, the railroads. They fought the police, the state militia and even the federal troops or the army. Chicago was a
president Rutherford B. Hayes won the election. With William A Wheeler a graduate from the University of Vermont as his Vice President. The team was sure to have a great presidential
because many of the workers went on strike or were killed and didn’t get what they wanted. On July 7, 1892 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there were ten people reported dead and more that had no official notification of death (Document G). These people died because they participated in the Homestead Strike. Even after this gruesome strike Homestead did not give into their demands and remained a nonunion for a while after. This proves that even though they held a strike against the factory, the workers conditions
that I believe had one of the biggest impacts on Americans at the time is the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. The social issue that I feel greatly affected America after the Civil War is Chinese immigration. One of the biggest political issues, to me, is the Populist Party. I feel that the Great Railroad Strike of 1887 was a major issue because it made Americans realize just how deeply Americans were invested in the railroads. At the time, the biggest investment banking firm in America, Jay Cooke and
The Gilded Age sparked an era of greateconomic changes for the United States and its citizens, from strikes by workers to panics and trusts by the United States wealthiest innovators of the time. The Gilded age will always be remembered for its great innovations that has shaped America to what it is in the present. One of the Gilded Age’s most prominent well-known philanthropist’s, John D. Rockefeller, had a lasting effect in the United States. He was America’s first ever billionaire. Rockefeller
worker, by reopening the Homestead, than the union had done. Thus, the unions were an utter failure in furthering the position of the laborer, as the laborer was better off before hand. Before unions the laborer had their life, as many died in failed strikes, and their dignity, as society at least held an intrinsic value in their lives. However, unions succeeded in decimating any chance of advancement by tarnishing the reputations of all laborers, leading to a direct decline in the socio-economic position
health benefits to workers who were either retired or injured, but everyone was not on board with the idea of foundations working to protect the interests of the common worker. Conflict with their industries lead to many strikes across the country in the coal, steel, and railroad industries, and several of these would ultimately end up leading to bloodshed. However, the existence of labor unions in the United States and their influence on their respective industries still resonates today, and many
ideas or policies, and most commentators apply it to others instead of themselves. Our textbooks usually combine populism with the People’s Party of the 1890s, but there is more knowledge to it. Populism refers to political movements that see the great mass of hard-working ordinary people in conflict with a powerful, parasitic few, variously described as “special interests,” the “elite,” the “so-called experts,” and of course, the “establishment.” Populists often demanded that plain common sense
and Michigan Canal, thus paving way for the great city we now call Chicago. The Black Hawk War of 1832 ended the final phase of the Native American resistance in the northern area. Chicago became a town in 1833 and rapidly incorporated into a city four years later when its’ population soared over 4,000 residents. Fast-forward thirty-four years. It is now October of 1871; over one-third of the city has
integration, defined above, in order to make his business successful. Andrew’s biggest rival was John D. Rockefeller, who was the king of the oil industry. Though Rockefeller had tactical marketing strategies, he was demanding illegal rebates with the railroad companies in order to keep his business alive. He then had to pioneer a trust which meant that he would gives shares to trustees who hold the stocks “in trust” for their stockholders. J.P. Morgan comes into play with his finance capitalism, consolidation