CHAPTER 17: Analyze the impact of the following on the American industrial worker between 1865 and 1900. Governmental Actions Immigration Labor Unions Technological changes

Thesis

As technological changes led to corporations controlling entire industries and creating monopolies, labor unions were created to protest the repeated lowering of wages by corporations, but often failed due to government actions, which often destroyed strikes and supported monopolies, giving industrial workers very little control over their jobs.

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 1: Technological changes led to the creation of monopolies and the lowering of wages and working conditions to maximize profit. Evidence 1: Taylorism Analysis: More expendable workers, deskilling Evidence 2: Horizonal Integration (US Steel Corporation or Rockefeller Standard Oil) Analysis: Monopolized industry, could set prices and wages Evidence 3: Assembly Line Analysis: Deskilling, led to less pay due to fewer skills

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Paragraph 2: Labor unions were created to resist lowering of wages and working conditions, but often failed to meet their goals and did not benefit the industrial workers. Evidence 1: Homestead Strike Analysis: Eventually shut Amalgamated down, through government Evidence 2: Pullman Strike Analysis: Federal government halted strike because it halted mail Evidence 3: Knights of Labor Analysis: Helped fight for workday and wages

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Paragraph 3: Government actions supported the creation of monopolies and in turn the lowering of wages, giving workers little control over their jobs. Evidence 1: Labor Contract Law Analysis: Immigrants lowered wages across the country Evidence 2: Failure of Child Labor laws Analysis: Child labor and women worked for less Evidence 3: New Jersey Incorporation Laws Analysis: Incorporation laws allowed for formation of monopolies