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United Tailoresses of New york
A later continuance of the daughters of liberty group formed in 1765. This group contained a collection of women who attempted to challenge their employers and formed a union early on in american history. -
Lowell mill strike
In lowell massachusetts a collection of over 2,000 workers collaborated and striked against the mill corporations. This was an early attempt to unite together for workers reform. -
Child labor strike
Children in New Jersey factories go on strike for better working conditions and hours for children. These factories were silk producing, and the children refused to do their job until their needs were met. -
First Government Investigation
Representatives from a trade union in the Lowell mills spoke to the Massachusetts Legislature about the conditions in factories, leading to the first government investigation into working conditions. -
National Labor union is formed
Included skilled and unskilled workers, anti- immigration and preached for an 8 hour workday, better conditions, and reduction of child labor -
Knights of Labor
Originally a secret organization, The Knights of Labor formed in Philadelphia to promote the social and cultural uplift of the working man, and demanded better working conditions such as an 8 hour work day. The Knights of Labor saw drastic growth in the 80s but began to fall apart after it became associated with violent events such as the Haymarket Square incident. -
Railway Strike of 1877
Workers strike against the Baltimore and Ohio railroads which inspire various strikes and riots. The violence in these strikes forces the government to send in federal forces for the first time to put down the violence. This showed the extreme tension between laborers and business owners. -
Haymarket Riot
Laborers rally in Haymarket square in Chicago to gain an eight hour work day. Violence breaks out when 2 bombs blow up and federal forces have to break apart the rally. The knights of labor are linked to this violence and various strikes like this which eventually causes the union to break apart and dissolve. -
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was a national federation of labor unions in the united states which disaffected from the Knights of Labor. It was the largest union grouping in the United States for the first half of the 20th century up until its merging with the Congress of Industrial Organizations. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Passed by Benjamin Harrison, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act prohibited any "contract, combination, in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce". This aimed to eliminate trusts and monopolies which had no competition and as a result, could do what they wanted with the prices of their goods and services. The practice of these big businesses defeated the purpose of a capitalistic economy -
Homestead Strike
A strike began at Homestead Steel. The company hired 300 detectives to go to the strike but when they arrived at the scene, the laborers were violent against them. A battle broke out between the workers on strike and the detectives which resulted in 18 deaths. Because of the violence shown by the union, the court disbanded them and banned unions from the steel industry for decades. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was a. Action wife strike where the American Railway Union pitted a boycott led by Eugene Debs. The strike resulted in the strike being put down and unsuccessful for the laborers involved. -
Railroad brotherhood
Over 17 different unions are established for railroad industrial reform including brotherhood of locomotive engineers, brotherhood of railroad trainmen, and the order of railway conductors. They all fought separate but similar battles against the major railroad businesses. -
Industrial Workers of the World
The IWW was started by western miners in a convention in Chicago. The IWW became the most radical labor unions but only succeeded in a few of its goals. Their radical spirit inspires many labor activists and groups in the future. -
Hepburn act
President Theodore Roosevelt increases the authority of the ICC. Sides with labor unions and decreases the power of railway businesses. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Hundreds of women were working in the upper floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory when a fire broke out. 146 women die in the fire bringing the work conditions of women to light. This moved the public to work to better working conditions in the cities, and inspired various reform and labor unions to assemble. -
Clayton Antitrust act
President Woodrow Wilson signs in this act to aid labor unions, although not previous ones from the Sherman Anti-Trust act of 1890. Boycotts, and strikes are now made officially legal and acceptable nationwide. -
Ludlow Strike
A fight breaks out in a camp where striking laborers were being housed. Federal forces enter the camp and set fire to their tents and gun down the strikers. At the end of the conflict, over 75 people died. -
Railway Labor act
Government enforces control of railroad and airline operations. Also makes it illegal for big businesses to have a prejudice towards those who participate in a labor union, and the labor union itself. -
Stock market crash
Formerly known as “Black Thursday”, the day the stock market heavily failed and began the great depression. Followed the roaring 20’s and began a very bad time for america that did not pick up until the beginning of World War 2. Losses of jobs, a growth in national debt, and an overwhelming gloom was present in america at this time. -
Davis- Bacon act
A federal law that created a tax on the common people for the building of public works. Promoted by president Hoover, this was not well revered by most citizens as the beginning of the great depression had begun and the president had initiated a new tax. -
Bonus March
WW1 veterans began a march on Washington DC because of the lack of support the US government had placed to aid these veterans as they came back from war and were placed back within society. This march was shut down by federal troops, but began a strive for social security and other similar programs. -
National Industrial Recovery Act
Plan initiated by Hoover to initiate economic stimulation in this dark economical time. Also established a national works program, and attempted to pump money into the national economy. -
Committee for Industrial Organization-
A federation and combination of unions that was established throughout the nation's industrial centers. Was regarded as the first successful combination of unions and promoted workers rights and conditions vastly. -
The Wagner Act
The Wagner Act, signed and Passed by FDR, guarantees basic rights of employees to organize into unions, engage in collective bargaining for better conditions at work, and take collective action to secure their rights and conditions. -
Social security act of 1935
Act placed to aid the unemployed, sick, poor, and old. President Roosevelt set forth this act in reaction partly to the previous bonus march that took place towards DC. Was the first plan that aided the elderly in the nation -
The Taft Hartley Act
Also known as the Labor Management Relations act, congress overrode Truman’s veto of this bill to go back on some of the disadvantages of the wagner act. The Taft Hartley Act closed shops and allows union shops only with the consent of a majority of employees -
Steel Mill strike
President Truman sends military troops to shut down steel mills in Massachusetts to avoid a strike in this industry. This action was later deemed unconstitutional and the labor unions won out. -
Labor management and Disclosure act
US federal government passes the Labor management and Disclosure act which regulates the unions in american labor, and watches over them to create benefits for the industrial worker with minimal corruption -
Equal Pay Act
equal pay act is passed by congress which ensures that women and men receive equal pay for the same job and limits sexism in the business world hugely. -
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Occupational health and safety act is passed by congress. This is a later attempt to give workers some benefits such as health care and provide better working conditions and a supporting list of ensured items. -
Steel Lockout
United states steel lockout occurs. This strike is against all big steel businesses and causes the loss of millions in profit and was an overall success for the workers. -
General electric strike
workers strike against General Electric in over 48 different factories.