🏭 Early Labor
Workers formed unions because of __________.
Low wages, long hours, and unsafe working conditions.
Socialism focuses on cooperation instead of ________.
Competition and profit.
What year was the Knights of Labor founded?
1869
Who founded the AFL?
Samuel Gompers.
What is collective bargaining?
Negotiating as a group for better wages and working conditions.
What is a strike?
Workers refuse to work until their demands are met.
How did socialist ideas influence labor unions?
They encouraged workers to demand fairness, cooperation, and better treatment in the workplace.
Who led the Knights of Labor?
Terence Powderly.
What year was the AFL founded?
1886.
Why did unions struggle to win strikes?
Employers replaced workers, and the government often supported business owners.
Why did early strikes often fail?
Employers could easily replace workers, and unions had little legal protection or government support.
Why did many Americans reject socialism?
It threatened private property, capitalism, and individual ownership.
What types of workers could join the Knights?
Skilled and unskilled workers, including women and African Americans.
What type of workers did the AFL mainly organize?
Skilled workers.
How did the government often respond to strikes?
Authorities frequently sided with business owners and sometimes used force to stop strikes.
What problems did factory workers face in the 1800s?
Low pay, long hours, dangerous machinery, and child labor.
How were socialist ideas different from capitalism?
Socialism promotes shared ownership and cooperation, while capitalism promotes private ownership and profit.
Why were the Knights NOT a “bread and butter” union?
They focused on broad social reforms instead of only wages and working conditions.
Why was the AFL called a “bread and butter” union?
It focused on practical workplace improvements like higher wages, shorter hours, and safer conditions.
Compare life in a company town to today.
Workers in company towns were controlled by their employers and had little freedom, while today low-paid workers have more rights and independence.
Compare early unions to modern unions.
Early unions were weak and lacked legal protections, while modern unions have more legal rights, organization, and government recognition.
Why would business owners oppose socialist ideas?
It could reduce their profits and limit their control over businesses.
Why did the Knights of Labor decline?
Failed strikes and public fear of labor unrest weakened the union.
Why did the AFL last longer than the Knights of Labor?
It concentrated on realistic goals and avoided broad social reform, which made it more stable and successful.
Why does child labor seem wrong to us today but not in the 1800s?
Today society values children’s rights and education, but in the 1800s child labor was widely accepted and often necessary for family income.