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Abraham Lincoln Takes Office
When Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861, it signified the beginning of the end of slavery. Naturally, this lead to the eventual creation of the labor movement in our country. Prior to this presidency, workers had no rights in our country and they were considered slaves. -
Thirteenth Amendment was Ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery was ratified on December 6 1865. Slavery remained legal in Deleware, Kentucky and Missouri. Everywhere else in the United States slavery had been freed by state action or Abraham Lincoln's Emancapation Proclamation. -
National Labor Union Is Founded
At a confrence in Baltimore, Maryland on August 20, 1866, skilled, unskilled, farmers and workers came together to call on congress to mandate an eight-hour workday. This union was so important to the labor movement because it prevents employers from taking advantage of employees. -
Knights Of Labor
The Knights of Labor picked up where the National Labor Union fedt off. Terence V. Powderly, the Mayor of Scranton Pennsylvania, and the organizer of the Knights of Labor, attempted to united skilled and unskilled workers to campaign for economic and social reform, and safety and health codes for workers. -
Fifteenth Amendment Ratified
The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratifed on February 3, 1870. The importance of this amendment was that it gave black men the right to vote. Prior to this amendment, black men were given no rights in our society and now they are allowed to exercise their most important right, which is the right to vote. -
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was one of the first times workers were able to organize and create a work stoppage that affected industry. It lasted 45 days and affected 100,000 railroad workers, showing the power of the union. In order to stop this strike, President Rutherford B. Hays called in federal troops. -
Haymarket Square Riot
What began as a peaceful rally by workers to effecuate an eight hour workday, turned a violent riot in Haymarket Square, Chicago. This riot resulted in the deaths of workers and policemen and was responsible for delaying approval of the eight hour workday. -
Federation Of Labor was founded
Known as the American Federation Of Labor (AFL), it consisted of an alliance of craft unions that did not follow the same beliefs as the Knights Of Labor. Samuel Gompers was elecetd the first president of the AFL and remained president every year except one before his death. The AFL eventually merged with the Congress of Industrial Orginazatons (CIO). The AFL-CIO still remains active today. -
Homestead Strike
The Homestead Strike was another example of an attempted peaceful strike that turned violent. The strike affected the Iron and Steel infustries in Pennsylvania. The National guard had to be called in to resolve the riots. This event effected the steel mills for the next forty years. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike involved the railroad inustry in Illinois. It was started as a result of the was George Pullman treated his workers. Almost 3,000 workers started a "wildcat" strike which is a strike unauthorized by the Union. What is signifigant about the Pullman Strike was that eventually the court system had to impose a federal injunction to break up the strike. -
Erdman Act
The Erdman Act is a federal law dealing with railroad disputes. The signifigance of the act is that it prohibited an employer from not allowing a worker to join a union. It also made it illegal to fire an employee because he was involed in a labor dispute. -
Formulation of the National Civic Federation
The National Civic Federation was founded as an answer to the violent and unsuccessful labor strikes of the late 1800's. This federation brought together executives from many different areas of industry to help maximize the rights of workers while avoiding costly strikes. The AFL and Samuel Gompers supported the National Civic Federation -
United States Industrial Commission
The Industrial Commission was created by President McKinley to investigate railroad pricing policy and other aspects of industry. The Commission was to report their findings back to Congress and President. The importance of the Industrial Commission was to start the era of "trust busting", which further protected the rights of workers.
