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Andrew Carnegie
Owner of US Steel trust, Believed in the Gospel of Wealth: the rich should not die rich, wealth should be distributed to those who could help themselves. Big business owner. -
John D. Rockefeller
Major Robber Baron, Owner of Standard Oil, famous for his horizontal integration of the oil refining industry. Bought out almost all his competition so he almost had a complete monopoly on American oil refineries. -
Samuel Gompers
Founder of the American Federation of Labor. Served as the union's president from 1886-1894. -
Eugene Debs
Leader of the American Railway Union, he helped the strikers in the Pullman Strike of 1894. Eventually went on to become leader of the American Socialist Party . -
The knights of labor
Welcomed unskilled and skilled laborers, their goal was to create a cooperative society in which laborers owned the industries in which they worked. Reached their peak in 1886. Wanted to make a society where laborers owned the industries. -
William 'Big Bill" Haywood
One of the main leaders of the industrial workers of the world. He was also apart of the socialist party of America -
Granger Laws
state attempts to limit railroad rates, shot down by courts -
The Great railroad strike
This strike was provoked by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's decision to cut wages for the second time in a year.
Was remembered as the first general strike in American history -
John L. Lewis
an American leader of organized labor who served as president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1920 to 1960. Also founded the Congress of Industrial workers. -
The American Federation of Labor
an alliance of skilled workers in craft unions;
concentrated on specific issues such as higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions. They only wanted skilled workers which separated them from other unions. Formed over dissatisfaction with Knights of labor and other labor unions. -
Haymarket Riot
The riot took place in Chicago between rioters and the police. It ended when someone threw a bomb that killed dozens. This riot ended up damaging the reputation of unions, it also killed the Knights of Labor -
Sherman Antitrust Act
This act forbade only unreasonable combinations or contracts in restraint of trade, but at the end of the 1890s, it focused on curbing labor unions. -
Homestead Strike
It was one of the most violent strikes in U.S. history. It was against the Homestead Steel Works, which was part of the Carnegie Steel Company, in Pennsylvania in retaliation against wage cuts. The riot was ultimately put down by Pinkerton Police and the state militia, and the violence further damaged the image of unions. -
People's Party
fought for better working conditions, wages, and an 8 hour work day for laborers. Also wanted direct government ownership over railroads -
Pullman Strike
This was a nonviolent strike which ended shutting down western railroads, which took place against the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago in 1894, because of the poor wages of the Pullman workers. It was ended by President Cleveland due to the interference with the mail system, and brought a bad image upon unions -
March on Washington
Jacob Coxey led groups of unemployed workers into D.C. to demand a government work relief program. It was unsuccessful, arrests were made and the crowd was forced to disperse. -
Lowell system
Young women were hired and brought together to be housed in dormitories; they would work for only a short time, but were paid low wages for hard work under poor conditions -
The Anthracite Coal Strike
a strike by the United Mine Workers of America it was important because President Theodore Roosevelt got involved. This marked the first time the federal government intervened in a labor dispute as a neutral arbitrator. -
Department of Labor and Commerce
New Cabinet position was created to address concerns of labor and business. The Bureau of Corporations was formed and investigated and reported illegal activities of corporations. -
Women's Trade Union League
organization made of working class and middle class women o Provided social education and relief support for working class women and supported strikes -
The Industrial Workers of the World
This union strived to unite all laborers, including unskilled workers and African Americans. Their goal was to create "One Big Union;" -
Triangle Shirtwaist fire
Fire at factory in New York City leading to reform working conditions in factories -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
Protects labor unions from Sherman Anti-Trust Act -
Ludlow Massacre
Colorado National Guard open fire on strikers killing men, women, and children, This was widely controversial because police opened fire on innocent people. -
Child Labor Act
This law forbad the shipment of products whose production involved labor of children under the age of 14 and it was the first time Congress regulated labor within a state using the interstate commerce power. -
Adamson Act
Mandated an 8-hour day for workers on interstate railroad and time and a half for overtime with a maximum of a 16-hour shift. -
Cesar Chavez
Was the farm civil rights leader and labor organizer. Embraced non violence as he tried to secure a living wage for farmers. unionized Mexican-American farm workers. -
National Recovery Administration
An attempt to guarantee reasonable profits for business and fair wages and hours for labor -
National Industrial Recovery Act
Gave laborers protection on minimum and maximum hours, rights to organize and bargain collectively. -
The Congress of Industrial Workers
organized unskilled and semiskilled factory workers in basic manufacturing industries such as steel and automobiles -
Wagner Act
Also known as the National Labor Relations Act, it ensured workers' right to organize and bargain collectively. -
Social Security Act
Federal insurance program designed to collect income from owners and employees for a trust fund to provide financial assistance for elderly over 65, unemployment compensation, disabled, and dependents - -
Fair Labor Standards Act
Established a minimum wage, a maximum workweek of 40 hours and time and a half for overtime, and child-labor restrictions on those under 16 -
Taft-Hartley Act
the primary purpose was to curb the power of labor unions, many people felt that unions were gaining too much power and could have communists inside.