Labor Struggles

(Period: Discontent and Reform)

Synopsis:

For a brief synopsis of the history of this time and period: Click Here.

Historical synopsis courtesy of A Hypertext on American History from the colonial period until Modern Times by Department of Humanities Computing, University of Groningen, The Netherlands and the former United States Information Agency (1953-1999).

Key Facts:

• Life at the turn of the century was difficult for most, with long work hours in unfavorable conditions in a job that did not pay enough to live decently.

Key Events:

• Great Rail Strike of 1877 - railroad workers across the country went on strike as a reaction to a pay cut

Key People:

• International Workers of the World (IWW) - a militant union of mine workers in the early 1900s.

Vocabulary:

• laissez-faire - the belief that businesses should be allowed to operate without government intervention and with little to no regulation
• Social Darwinism - survival of the fittest in society - the belief that the smartest and most capable people will excel in society, and those who don't are at fault.