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"The declaration of independence"- Thomas jefferson
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Lowell Mill Women Create First Union of Working Women
The mill women were well organized and admired. This was cool but the women were greatly overworked with a reckoning 13 hours a day. After bosses decided they wanted to cut their wages the women decided to fight back. -
Samuel Gompers
Samuel Gompers is known as one of the architects of the labor movement. He started the structure and characteristic strategies of American unions and effectively used different levels of power to evolve the tactics we use today. He forged self-confident workers dedicated to principles of solidarity ans mutual aid. -
Atlanta's Washerwomen Strike
Before the end of slavery black laundresses went on strike. They were fighting for higher wages, respect for their work, and control over how it was organized. -
Homestead Strike
The Homestead mills wages were higher than any other mills in the country. It was close to the end of the union's three year contract when they decided to do wage cuts for 325 employees. They had already had a big pay cut three years prior so this had upset employers. -
The Battle of Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek became popular after it was discovered that it had gold. 150 mines arose because of this new finding and so did the miners union. Mine owners were trying to increase working hours without increasing pay. -
Mother Jones
Mother Jones was known as "The most dangerous woman in America". This was due to her standing up for what's right for women and child workers. She allowed African Americans to join in strikes that she held as well. All her work was protesting against sending women and kids to mines. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Triangle Shirtwaist factory caught on fire. When firefighters arrived their ladders weren't tall enough to reach the higher floors.(10-stories) Employees were trapped inside because the owners kept the emergency doors locked. Many casualties were accounted for. -
John L. Lewis
John was the president of the united Mine Workers of America. He was the dominant voice shaping the labor movement. He was a very effective advocate of industrial unionism and government assistance. -
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was an African American male. He supported the passage of civil rights and anti-poverty legislation . He made sure the African American workers' got their rightful place in the house of labor. -
Sidney Hillman
Sidney sought "constructive cooperation" between the union and garment firms to ensure that economic health were of worker standards. Hillman shaped labor legislation protecting workers' rights and living standards. Due to his efforts political action and education became a priority.