| (lesson 2, cont.) II. Ideological Base--ideas that help justify the Robber Baron mentality A. Protestant work ethic; Gospel of Wealth 1. Goes back to the Puritans (New England) says that poverty is caused by vice, and prosperity is caused by virtue 2. Russel Conwell--Baptist Minister--gives his view on it in speech called "Acres of Diamonds" B. Social Darwinism--taking concept of ecnomic evolution and applying it to society 1. Defense of Economic inequality 2. Herbert Spencer--philosopher from England-- -In England he set forth the ideas of social darwinism 3. William Sumner--professor at Yale--introduced soc. dar ideas in America III. The Role of Govt "The Govt of business is NO part of the business of Govt." --accepted slogan of the Gilded Age A. Congressional Legislation--passed to aid growth 1. RR Acts (1862, 1864) Govt basically pays private companies to build RRs---private Companies being subsidized 2. Land Acts (Homestead Act) B. Judicial Decisions (pro-business) 1. 1882--San Mateo Case--cities in CA 2. 1886--Santa Clara Case-- " " " 3. 1886--Wabash RR vs. IL **What role does state govt play in regulating business? -these rulings say states don't have authority to regulate interstate commerce IV. The Wage Earners A. Negative: Wages are low B. Positive: High employment rate C. Working Conditions: unsafe and unhealthy **1911 NY City Triangle Shirt Waist Fire---women workers in 10 story building---top 3 floors couldn't escape, 146 women died **1913--25,000 factory fatalities **Taylorism--plan to maximize productivity and minimize expense D. Management vs Labor Issues ** *both sides had their own goals** *Capital goal--greatest profit margin 1. Management -Yellow dog contract--nonunion workers only -Blacklist--agitating workers' names--those who tried to organize labor forces -Company Police/Security take care of agitaters 2. Workers -Primary goals--higher wages, shorter workday, safe & sanitary workplace -Secondary goals--child labor laws, workers compensation -How--labor strikes, boycotts (refuse to buy goods produced by co.), organize labor unions V. Working Class Protest A. Organized Expressions 1. Unionism-form labor unions * Trade Unions-formed specifically for skilled workers -got more money, less likely to get rid of these employees, managers more receptive to them * Industrial Unions-unskilled workers 2. Political Activism * socialism (govt owns everything) * anarchism (no govt) 3. RR Strike 1877 (VA) genuine National strike B. The Knights of Labor 1869 *** First major union--industrial union 1. Terence Powderly--not the founder, but leader 2. Haymarket Square Riot--downtown Chicago--1886 -Knights of Labor Union went on strike building farm equipment -Demanded 8 hour work day and $2/day wage increase -7 policemen killed, 7 workers arrested w/death sentence * Organized Labor Unions received bad reputation, Middle class Americans suspected all organized labor was anarchist or socialist C. American Federation of Labor 1881 (AFL) *Longest Lasting Union 1. Founded by Samuel Gompers 2. Stuck to bread and butter issues--stayed away from politics 3. Pragmatic and moderate 4. Shortcoming: Race Restrictive D. Soclist Alternative 1. Socialist Party of America 1901 2. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) -1905 by William D. Haywood -after WW2 (1918) it disappeared -most violent/extreme labor union--opposite AFL -leaders committed to nothing less than overthrowing capitalism 3. 500,000 members 4. Denounced the AFL as being too moderate/conservative E. The Homestead Strike 1892 1.At Carnegie Steel Plant 2. Plant Manager there: Henry Clay Flick 3. 300 armed Pinkerton agents vs Strikers 4. 12 killed (6p, 6s), 60 wounded 5. Alexander Berkman--anarchist---arrested and convicted for: shoot Frick twice, stab 3 times F. The Pullman Strike 1894 1. Wage reduction 2. Eugene vs Debs, leader and head of Rail way Union 3. Shut down 24 RRs b/c it was so effective 4. Eugene VD arrested for disobeying court 5. President Cleveland sends in troops **Failure of American Socialism: - too much infight among socialists - American capitalism just too strong - Americans not class-concious **Overall Gilded Age is a time of adaptation to new world order 1. people wouldn't just sit back and watch, workers wouldn't remain passive 2. Federal govt. forced to come in and restore order |
| HIST 1302 |
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