Dbq Industrial Workers

The environment industrial workers faced during the years 1875 to 1900, was extremely harsh. While the United States just finished a war, it was also trying to compete against other countries in the industrial world. Workers were not even given the option for retirement pensions, benefits, or vacation time. They endured excessive hour shifts, trifle amounts of pay, and dangerous conditions while working in the factories. Labor movements could not handle this anymore; therefore, they took action. The main points they argued for were safer atmospheres, honest pay, and easier working shifts. The predicament of industrial workers was horrendous during these years. Not only did they work sixteen to twenty hours at a time, but the pay just

Seasonal working was absolutely terrible. In the summer months, they would be in hot, sticky work areas. On the contrary, the winter was equally as bad. Heating in the workshops was not available, so the people wore as much clothes as they could manage. Otherwise, all year, disease control was a major problem. Because of overcrowding, it was very easy for illness to spread. The sanitation level was at an all-time low. These problems lead to workers becoming sick, injured, and in some cases, passing away. One of the first important labor unions was the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor formed in 1869. More commonly known as Knights of the Labor, this union became one of the biggest with over seven-hundred and fifty thousand members from the 1870s to 1885. The members were very active. They collaborated petitions, held strikes for days, and in severe scenarios, performed riots. These actions were all against business owners, and the dangers they put their workers through. They believed in better things; consequently, they stood up for it. The most famous riot in 1886, was the Haymarket Riot. This was a very hazardous riot, and many people did not agree. The popularity of the union declined very rapidly after