Effects on Society from Industrialization and Urbanization and Federal Reforms that Followed (DG)
By Dorrieg
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The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial revolution ushered in an era of rapid urban growth. This created monsters of industry who took advantage of their workforce and who exploited lack of state and federal legislation to their advantage. This led to monopolies and an era of child labor, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, and long work hours with low wages. These conditions led to a series of protest, which ultimately led to legislation.
Image: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/immigrants-chicago.htm -
Founding of the National Labor Union
The first nationwide labor organization. It's members were skilled and unskilled laborers. farmers,and women. Platform was a federally mandated 8 hour work day, and higher wages among other things [1]. This organization would dissolve in later years and usher in different labor unions, however this the first large scale labor attempt at better working conditions.
Image: http://www.bankersnotes.com/2013/08/aug-20-1866-national-labor-union.html
[1] Corbett, U.S. History, Chapter 18, Section 18.3 -
The Knights of Labor
After the dissolution of the NLU during the Panic of 1873, the KOL took over and continued their efforts. However they accepted all wage laborers including African Americans.They advocated for limits on child labor and immigration and government ownership of railroads [1]. This is a continued attempt to create awareness to the plight of the working class and garner federal help and regulation.
image: http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/knights-labor
[1]Corbet et al, Chapter 18, Section 18.3 -
Immigration
Immigration dramatically increased after the Civil War. Prior to the Civil War immigrants were mostly from northern and western Europe, were educated and spoke English. Later immigrants arrived from Eastern and Southern Europe, they were poor, uneducated and did not speak much English [1]. This influx created a lack of housing and jobs and would lead to anti immigrant sentiment and laws.
image: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/ellis-island.htm
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 19, Section 19.2 -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Anti-immigrant sentiment led to this Act. Asians had immigrated to California during the Gold Rush. They accepted low pay, which made employers lower pay for all workers, including whites. This made the whites angry. The white's lobbied Congress regarding immigration. The Chinese Exclusion Act passed and suspended immigration from China for 10 years, and was extended for another 10 after that.
image: https://www.archives.gov/research/chinese-americans
[1] Corbet et al, Chapter 17, Section 17.5 -
The Haymarket Affair
Chicago-During a peaceful protest, someone threw a bomb targeting the police and killed a police officer. With public concerns of labor violence, this hurt the labor union movement and labor unions were viewed as a threat to law an order [1]. This event led to the demise of the KOL, however it did not stop the labor movements quest for better regulations for workers.
Image :Figure 3 Corbett, U.S. History, Chapter 18, Section 18.3
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 18, Section 18.3 -
Sherman Anti Trust Act
In 1890 Congress passed the Act in an attempt to reform corrupt practices. The act attempted to limit the power of companies that controlled the market and prohibited all trusts and monopolies, and restricted conspiracy to block trade [1]. This was aimed at the Mega companies such as Standard Oil and Homestead Steel Works, who used exploitative practices to gain their wealth.
Image: gallery Sherman act http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/570672.html
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 20, Section 20.2 -
The Homestead Strike
Pittsburgh-Carnegie was one of the "big business" corporations that built an empire during the lack of federal oversight. When his workers went on strike, his manger Henry Clay Frick brought in detectives. The strikers fired on the detectives and killed several. The militia was then brought in to end the strike[1]. Thus another failed attempt at organized labor to bring change to their plight.
Image: https://www.britannica.com/event/Homestead-Strike
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 18, Section 18.3 -
Theodore Roosevelt
With the assumption of the presidency in 1901, "Teddy" became the first president to enact major legislation towards reeling in big business and improving the safety, living and working conditions of the working class. He created the Department of Commerce and Labor whose job was to investigate trusts. He earned the name "Trustbuster"[1].
image: Puck Magazine 1902, Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/puckframes.html
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 21, Section 21.4 -
The Elkin/Hepburn Acts
The Elkins Act was an attempt at further reform regarding the practices of Big Business. This law made railroad companies that offered rebates and shipping companies that accepted them illegal and punishable by law. The Hepburn Act which followed in 1906 gave the Interstate Commerce Commission the authority to set maximum shipping rates for the railroads.
Source/Date: Los Angeles Times, February 9, 1906
Source Corbett, U.S. History, Chapter 21, Section 21.4 -
Upton Sinclair-Muckraker
Upton Sinclair, was a journalist and muckrake who exposed unsanitary and unsafe conditions in the meatpacking industry. Muckrakers in general investigated corruption, slums, child labor and other social issues. He wrote "The Jungle" a novel about immigrants working in the meatpacking industry and unsanitary conditions. This novel influenced Teddy Roosevelt to pass laws to regulate the industry [1].
Image:http://www.capitalcentury.com/1906.html
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 21, Section 21.4 -
Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act (FDA)
After investigating the meatpacking industry, Roosevelt passed legislation to protect public health. The Meat Inspection Act gave government oversight to inspection and grading systems on the quality of the meat made for public consumption and the FDA required labels on all foods and drugs stating the ingredients [1].
Image-June 30, 1906-Congress Passes the Meat Inspection Act. http://www.awb.com/dailydose/?p=1313
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 21, Section 21.4 -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
New York-Working conditions in factories were deplorable. Practices were unsafe and workers were required to labor long hours for little pay. When a fire broke out, 146 female workers died. Managers had locked the doors and fire escapes to keep workers in [1]. This fire emphasized the need for federal regulation of the harsh working conditions women worked under and several bills were passed to implement workplace safety laws.
[1] Corbet, U.S. History, Chapter 21, Section 21.2 -
U.S. Children’s Bureau
The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) formed in 1904 to help bring to light the conditions of child labor in factories worked with President Taft to create the Children's Bureau which was created in 1912. The goal to bring about greater public awareness to the plight of children working in unsafe conditions. Pressure from the public and the NCLC will bring about legislation [1].
Image: Dante Mercurio, Washington Post April 10, 1912
[1] Corbett et al, Chapter 21, Section 21.4 -
The Keating-Owen Child Act
This act prohibited the transport across state lines of goods made using child labor. Later deemed unconstitutional by the supreme court because it interfered with states rights [1], this law nonetheless showed a huge change in the way the public viewed child labor and in later years would bring about further legislation.
Image: Library of Congress January 19, 1909 https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/07/child-labor-in-america-100-years-ago/397478/
[1] Corbet et al, Chapter 21, Section 21.2 -
Adamson Act
President Wilson, hoping to prevent another railroad strike during preparations for war, enacted legislation which mandated an 8 hour workday for railroad workers with time and a half for overtime pay [1]. Workers have finally obtained some degree of justice in their fight for fair working conditions.
[1] https://www.loc.gov/rr/news/topics/eighthour.html
Image source: Stinson, Dayton News, She Didn't Even Have to Slow Down, October 1916 -
National Origins Act-Johnson-Reed Act
The Act was revised from a previous act from 1921 and limited the number of immigrants allowed entry into the U.S.based on their country of origin using the 1890 census data. It restricted the immigration of Europeans and completely excluded Asians from entry. The quota provided immigration visas to two percent of the total number of people of each nationality [1].
[1] http://immigration.laws.com/national-origins-act
Image:https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-act
