Working Conditions
How many hours would workers work.
Often worked 12 to 16 hours
What was the impact of early industrial technology on labor?
Industrial machinery shifted work from small-scale manual production to large-scale factory systems.
What did Americans face during the Gilded Age?
Americans faced poverty, unsafe working conditions, political corruption, and overcrowded cities.
What is the role of government in labor reform?
Governments create and enforce labor laws to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions.
What were common labor problems during the Gilded Age?
Long hours, low pay, unsafe factories, and few rights.
Which groups were paid less than men?
Women and children were paid less than men, despite doing the same work.
What technologies transformed labor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Electricity, assembly lines, and mechanization improved efficiency but concentrated power in employers’ hands.
What did the Progressives do?
Pushed for laws to protect workers, limit child labor, and improve housing.
What is the role of employers in addressing labor problems?
Employers are responsible for following labor laws and treating workers fairly.
What are examples of modern labor issues similar to the past?
Still struggle with low wages, unstable schedules, and unsafe conditions.
Where did children work during the Industrial Revolution?
Children were employed in dangerous environments such as mines and textile mills.
How has modern technology affected job availability and working hours?
Automation and robotics have replaced some jobs, reducing hours for workers.
How did Jane Addams help immigrants?
Created settlement houses to help immigrants with education, childcare, and job training.
What is the role of labor unions?
Advocate for workers’ rights, organize strikes, and push for stronger protections.
What improvements exist today compared to the Gilded Age?
Minimum-wage laws, workplace-safety rules, and limits on child labor.
What happened when workers tried to form unions?
Attempts to organize unions were often met with violence or suppression.
What are benefits of technological advancements for workers?
Reduced physically demanding tasks, improved safety, and enabled remote work.
Who were muckrakers?
Journalists who exposed corruption and unfair business practices.
How does society contribute to labor reform?
Consumers and society influence companies through ethical choices and public pressure.
What are examples of modern labor challenges that did not exist in the Gilded Age?
Automation and gig-economy jobs that treat workers as contractors.
What were living conditions like for workers in industrial cities?
Overcrowded housing and unsanitary conditions contributed to widespread disease.
What is one negative consequence of modern technology on employment?
Job displacement (job loss) due to automation.
What is trust-busting?
The government breaking up powerful monopolies.
What are common reasons businesses resist labor reforms?
Employers often oppose labor solutions due to fears of higher costs and stricter rules.
What strategies can modern workers use to improve labor conditions?
Join together, speak out, and push lawmakers to update labor laws, just like workers did in the Gilded Age.