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The ILGWU
The ILGWU was founded in 1900. ILGWU stands for International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. This union tried to organize unskilled workers. The majority of these workers were Jewish and Italian immigrant women. -
Labor Laws
Florence Kelley helped organize a committee call the National Child Labor Committee to try and persuade state legislatures to pass laws against employing children. By 1912, 39 states had passed the child-labor laws and a majority of the rest limited the hours children were allowed to work to 8-10 hours a day. -
IWW
The IWW, or the Industrial Workers of the World, was founded in 1905. The IWW opposed capitalism. They were led by William "Big Bill" Haywood. -
Redesigning Chicago
Daniel Burnham produced a magnificent plan for redesigning Chicago. It was the first comprehensive plan to redesign a U.S. city. Burnham decided to make the center piece of his vision a soaring city hall that would inspire citizens to be good people. -
Dangerous Workplace
Seventy percent of all American workers worked, on average, 54 hours a week. Because of this, American workers had higher accident rates. Laws were promoted to prohibit monopolies and to help smaller businesses compete in the economy. Most businesses opposed these said laws. -
Female and child laborers
The majority of working women earned less than 6 dollars a week. Business owners often fired female workers if they asked for a higher or pay or protested. Few child laborers ever attended school. Children were usually put into the work because it was either that, or the family wouldn't have food.
