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1865-2017 Civil Unrest
"Change is the only constant." I think the quote bears a lot of truth. it seems like in todays world the only thing that you can count on is for things to change, and when things change it's usually brought on by a major act or actions. These are some of the great American unrests that brought on change in their respective industries, communities, and lives. Sometimes its brought on by the big guys upstairs and sometimes by every day college students. Everyone has a voice in this country. -
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the first national labor strike. Workers were protesting a recent pay cut by not going to work. This labor walkout paralyzed railroad traffic in most of the United States. Militia units tried to force the workers back to work, and troops fired on workers in Pittsburgh killing twenty. The peaceful demonstration turned violent and the workers responded by burning the cities railroad yards and causing millions of dollars in damages. -
The Wounded Knee Massacre
The Ghost Dance was a religious revitalization campaign where large groups of Indians gathered for days of singing, dancing, and religious activities. The government was in fear of an uprising so it sent troops to the reservations on December 29, 1890. The soldiers shot at Ghost Dancers camping in Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The soldiers killed between 150 and 200 Indians, mostly women and children. All of the troops and their commander were pardoned and applauded by the press. -
President Mckinley Assassinated
On September 6, 1901 President William McKinley was shot twice by anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. President McKinley did not die at the scene of the attack, but passed away eight days later on September 14, 1901 from complications caused by the bullet wounds. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest President at age 42, and led our country from 1901-1909. -
Ludlow Massacre
The Ludlow Massacre began as a strike against John D. Rockefeller's Colorado Fuel & Iron Company. The workers of this company were mostly immigrants and they were trying to demand the recognition of the United Mine Workers of America union. They wanted an 8 hour work day, better pay, and to be able to live outside company owned property. The striking workers were evicted and forced into tent colonies. 7 months later armed troops surrounded the largest tent and burned it down, killing 20-30. -
Henry Ford
Ford Motor Company owner Henry Ford developed the moving assembly line in the car industry which allowed him to expand output exponentially."34,000 cars priced at $700 each in 1910, to 730,000 Model T's that sold at a price of $316 in 1916."(Pg. 702) In 6 years he was able to make 20 times more vehicles by means of the moving assembly line. Ford used factory spies to prevent unionization and did business with Nazi Germany throughout the 1930's, Germany even provided slave labor for Henry Ford. -
Ford Hunger March
By 1914 Ford had raised his wages to double that of his competitors, and was able to get the best workers. However, working conditions were not as appealing as the money. By the Spring of 1932, workers had a list of demands that included the re-hiring of workers, healthcare, end of racial discrimination, the right to unionize, and no more company spies. When the marchers arrived at the Ford factory on March 7, 1932, police and Ford Security guards opened fire killing 5 and injuring 22 others. -
United Auto Workers Sit Down Strike
In December of 1936 the United Auto Workers began a sit down strike inside of General Motors factory in Flint, Michigan. A sit down strike is when workers stop production and stay inside the factory. Police tried to get in, but the workers fended them off. Workers wives shuttled them food and the workers stayed here for the next 3 months. Finally, on February 11, 1937, General Motors agreed to negotiate with the union and sign the labor contract. It took until 1941 for Henry Ford to do the same. -
Kent State University Shootings
In 1970 President Nixon ordered American troops into neutral Cambodia after saying he was going to withdraw our troops from the war. Those not in favor of the war quickly rose and they rose most significantly on college campuses. Kent State was just one of the colleges that was protesting the Vietnam War, but when the National Guard showed up shooting 13 students and killing 4, it started an uproar across our countries colleges. -
Students respond to Kent State Shooting
At this point in time the Vietnam War was already becoming increasingly unpopular, and the Kent State Shootings set off a cannon that was ready to explode. 4 days after the Kent State shooting students gathered nationwide and there were violent interactions with the police and National Guard on over 25 college campuses, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. This was the entire Nation's youth way of saying that they had enough of the Vietnam War and they were going to do something about it. -
1992 Rodney King Riots
The riots began on April 29, 1992 when 4 LAPD officers were found not guilty for excessive force when they arrested Rodney King. The arrest was on video and you could clearly see King getting beaten and tasered by four different police officers for suspicion of DUI. The African American community in Los Angeles was outraged and riots that involved looting, setting places on fire, and even death in some cases. The riots were not put to rest until the national guard and the military came to town. -
9/11 attacks and Patriot Act
There are several theories or explanations to what happened during September 11, 2001. Whatever really happened we may never know, or maybe we already do. Either way the attacks of 9/11 allowed the USA patriot act to pass which if you are subject to, strips you of most constitutional rights. Indefinite detentions, search and seizure without consent, and allows the FBI to access your phone records and emails without court order. I know who this law is for, but I would hate to see it used on US.
