Working Conditions Dbq Essay

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In the present 21st century, our whole economy is mainly depended upon technology advancements. However, from the end of the Civil War and into the early 1900s, the economy was industrializing at a rapid pace. As a result, the industrialization created a larger need for a larger workforce. Even though the working conditions did change, it often caused hardships for workers as a result. Because of the hardships of the workers, the government and several trade union stepped in attempting to solve many problems such as the low wages, the infamous child labor, and the unsafe working conditions through the passing of laws.
One problem in the 1900s was child labor, which was not an uncommon sight in the factories. The children who worked in these factories would be exposed to harsh chemicals and could possibly

lose an arm or limb to the dangerous machinery. Children as young as 16 years old would work in those unsafe, overcrowded factories instead of going to school. To resolve the child labor issue, many states began passing laws that made child labor illegal. As shown in the illustration in document 7, the state of Georgia passed the Georgia Child Labor laws, which took children out of Georgia Factories (document 7). Ultimately, the state of Georgia recognized that there was an issue with child labor. For that reason, Georgia passed the Georgia Child Labor Laws so that kids would go to school to receive an education instead of being trapped in factories. Also shown in document 2, in 1913, New York State passed laws that made it illegal to hire children to do factory work in tenements or canneries (document 2). In other words, the state of New York had also recognized the issue with child labor that they passed laws on that matter that kids who are under age are prohibited to work in factories. Soon other states had also noticed the same issue with child labor and begun to pass laws that made child labor illegal.
Another problem in the 1900s was that workers were paid very low. Workers were paid as little as a dollar or a dollar and twenty-five cents for working for twelve to sixteen hours a day. The low wages were so bad that many were starving. In document 3, Governor John P. Altgeld of Illinois wrote to George M. Pullman saying that “there are nearly six thousand people suffering for want of food- they were your employees” (document 3). This explains that although people had jobs that paid them, the wages they earned was still not enough money to even feed themselves. However, workers who joined labor unions had their wages increased dramatically. In document 8, the President of American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers, said that those who joined labor unions had their “wages increased 70 percent in the past seven years” (document 8). Ultimately, although workers did got paid close to nothing, when they joined labor unions they were able to earn a lot more money. In comparison, without labor unions people were getting scraps, but joining a labor union fed the workers to their belly’s full.
In addition, the unsafe working conditions that workers worked was also another issue.

Coal miners, especially had it rough since the falling rocks from the mines can kill them. In document 1, the author wrote that “powder, smoke, after-damp, bad air- all combined to bring furrows to our faces and asthma to our lungs” (document 1). This suggests that the working conditions were so unsafe that fumes of toxic chemicals were traveling down their respiratory system, which would eventually kill them in the end. To resolve these unsafe working conditions states started passing laws that required companies to improve working conditions to stay in business. As shown in the illustration in document 2, in 1912, New York State, passed laws that required factories to have fire escapes, fire drills, and fire-resistant windows in factories (document 2). This passing was result from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, an event in which the workers of an industrial company couldn’t escape a fire because of the unsafe working conditions. As a result of the issues with unsafe working conditions, states passed laws that required companies to improve the working

conditions.
In the 1900s, the government and other groups attempted to solve many issues with the economy, such as the low wages, child labor, and the unsafe working conditions, through the passing of laws and help from labor unions. Low wages of workers were increased greatly when workers joined labor unions. Child labor was made illegal through the act of passing laws. Even unsafe working conditions were improved through the passing of laws. Without these issues being recognized and resolved, we would still be dealing with these issues in the 21st century.