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Slavery
Prior to the Civil War slavery was commonplace in the Southern United States. African Americans were bought and sold and considered property of the white man who paid for them. They worked long days on plantations, tending to the crops. Slaves did not earn a wage and often lived in deplorable conditions. After the Civil War President Lincoln passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the United States [1]. -
Period: to
Changes in the work force across the United States from 1865-1929
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The Cowboy and Cattle Drives
Western Expansion of the United States created new jobs for African and Mexican Americans as cowboys [2]. Ranchers would hire them to move their cattle from one area to another in order to be sold [3]. Much of the cattle drives took place across the Great Plains moving east to their destination. It was a rough job that required long days but the job offered some of the first paying jobs for African American and Mexican men [4]. -
Factory Workers
During the Industrialization Age people began to move away from farming and into the cities [7]. Factories were booming trying to keep up with urbanization and offered many job opportunities. While a majority of the workforce in this industry were men, the number of women and children employed began to increase [8]. Wages were not equal with women and children making less. Hours were long and labor unions began to rise petitioning for workers rights for equal pay and shorter work hours [9]. -
Farmers in the South and the Midwest
Farming is a large part of American history. During the late 1800's more than half of the American Population were working on farms [5], this number significantly decreased by the early 1900's. Many of the farms were located in the Southern states. Men, women and children all worked together for the good of the family. Days were long and the advancement of machinery required less manual labor leaving many looking for employment elsewhere [6]. -
Wartime Employment
When the United States entered the war it changed the labor force. Men were being called to fight in the war leaving jobs that needed to be filled. African Americans found themselves eligible for jobs in the factories for the first time [10]. The number of women and children employed also increased [11]. The government passed a no strike law in order to keep production going thus improving wages and work hours [12]. -
Women at Home
After the war America entered into an age of luxury. Inventions were making life easier for Americans giving them more time for leisure [13]. Inside the home inventions such as the refrigerator, vacuum cleaners and washing machines were supposed to give women more freedom [14]. In reality, women found that they cleaned more with their new found free time thus not shortening their work day at all [15]. -
Footnote [1]
National Archives Website, “The Bill of Rights, Amendments 11-27” -
Footnote [2], [3], [4]
[5] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 17.3, page 492
https://openstax.org/details/us-history#errata
[6] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 17.3, page 493
[7] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 17.3, page 493 -
Footnote [5], [6]
[5] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 18.3, page 524
[6] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 18.3, page 524 -
Footnote [7], [8], [9]
[7] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 18.3, page 524
[8] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 18.3, page 525
[9] Class lecture by Kimberly Breuer, Topic 3, Revolt in the Workplace -
Footnote [10], [11], [12]
[10] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 23.2, page 675
[11] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 23.2, page 675
[12] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 23.2, page 676 -
Footnote [13], [14], [15]
[13] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 24.1, page 700
[14] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 24.1, page 700
[15] Corbett, U.S. History. 2016. Chapter 24.1, page 700
