Working Conditions
Workers routinely worked this many days a week with no vacations.
6 or 7 days a week
The first large-scale national organization of workers, founded in 1866.
The National Labor Union
Workers for this railroad struck in 1877 to protest wage cuts, sparking a nationwide walkout.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Mine workers called her 'Mother Jones.' She organized the Children's Crusade to fight child labor.
Mary Harris Jones
Workers refused to buy a company's products in this union tactic.
A boycott
In 1882, this many workers were killed on the job PER WEEK on average.
675 workers
Founded in 1869 by Terrence Powderly, this union welcomed skilled, unskilled, women, and African Americans.
The Knights of Labor
A bomb explosion at this Chicago square in 1886 turned public opinion against unions.
Haymarket Square
Known as 'Big Bill,' he co-founded the IWW in 1905.
William D. Haywood
Employers forced new workers to sign these contracts, swearing never to join a union.
Yellow Dog Contracts
In 1910, this fraction of children under 15 were working.
1 out of every 5
Samuel Gompers founded this federation of craft unions in 1881.
The American Federation of Labor (AFL)
This 1892 strike against Andrew Carnegie's steel plant ended with blacklisted workers and a collapsed union.
The Homestead Steel Strike
This AFL leader focused on 'bread and butter' goals: higher pay, 8-hour workday, better conditions.
Samuel Gompers
Employers hired these private detectives to spy on unions and break up strikes.
Pinkertons
Workers in company towns had to pay rent and buy supplies here.
The company store
This socialist union, founded in 1905, promoted 'One Big Union' for all workers.
The IWW (International Workers of the World / Wobblies)
Eugene Debs led this 1894 strike that brought rail service in the western US to a standstill.
The Pullman Strike
After being jailed for 6 months during the Pullman Strike, he became a socialist and helped found the IWW.
Eugene V. Debs
In 1895, the Supreme Court applied this law to rule that strikes were an illegal interference with interstate commerce.
The Sherman Antitrust Act
In 1900, the average worker earned this much per hour.
22 cents ($6.58 adjusted)
By 1914, this union had grown to over 2 million members.
The AFL
President Cleveland sent in federal troops during this strike, claiming to protect this service.
Mail service (postal service)
He was the founder and leader of the Knights of Labor.
Terrence Powderly
This court order, enforced by police or the National Guard, demanded a strike immediately end.
An injunction