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Summary Workers in the Gilded Age - OCR A Level History Civil Rights in the USA
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These notes cover Workers and Trade Unions in the Gilded Age for OCR A Level History for the unit Civil Rights in the USA
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Workers in the Gilded Age Guilds represented groups of workers in the same trade, usually only accepting
learned skilled traders.
Industrialisation created replaceable, unskilled labourers.
Unskilled workers were treated with snobbery, and they struggled to access worker’s
rights groups such as guilds.
America’s belief in ‘rugged individualism’ and fears of communism made people
afraid of organised labour and its power.
Trade unions represent employees to fight for wages, working conditions, and
maximum working hours – they embody collectivism.
They fight and campaign through lobbying, protests, campaigning, and,
controversially, going on strike.
Problems facing workers in the Gilded Age:
o Poor wages and long hours
o Employers had no obligation to recognise the existence of trade unions
o Poor, often dangerous working conditions
o In 1889, 2000 railmen were killed
o The transition from skilled workshops to unskilled factories
o A rapidly growing workforce – industrial workforce went from 885,000 in
1860 to 3.2 million in 1900
The Great Railroad Strike 1877:
o Workers were in such a weak position in 1877 because of economic
depression, railroad companies dropping wages, and decreased union
membership.
o The Great Railroad Strike began because pay was cut resulting in B&O
workers in Martinsburg going on strike on 16th July. The state militia failed to
contain the strike resulting in more strikes in other railroad cities.
o Public sympathy and disapproval of railroad company tactics differentiated
this strike.
o President Hayes deployed federal troops and, after three weeks of turmoil,
the strike ended.
o Very little was achieved although some companies improved conditions and
provided coverage for sickness, injury, and death.
o Many states set up new National Guard units and constructed armouries in
industrial cities.
Name of Membership Key Leaders: Aims: Result: Significance:
Group: :
-Founded in -William H. -8 hour -Iron -NLU largely
1866 Sylvis working day Founder’ disintegrated
National -Separate -Currency strike in by 1873
Labour organisations and banking winter 1866- -Largely
Union for African reform 67 ineffective
Americans -End to -Sylvis died
convict in 1869
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