Glossary
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
A major labor union founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers, which focused on practical, bread-and-butter issues like wages and working conditions for skilled workers.
Example:
Unlike the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor adopted a more pragmatic approach, focusing on achievable goals for its skilled membership.
Blacklists
Lists circulated among employers containing the names of union organizers or pro-union workers, preventing them from finding employment.
Example:
After speaking out for better wages, a worker found himself on a blacklist, unable to secure a job in any local factory.
Child Labor
The employment of children in industrial settings, often for long hours and in dangerous conditions, depriving them of education and a normal childhood.
Example:
It was common to see young children working in coal mines or factories, a widespread practice of child labor that sparked later reform movements.
Concentration of Wealth
The accumulation of a disproportionately large amount of economic assets and income in the hands of a small percentage of the population.
Example:
The immense fortunes of figures like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller exemplified the extreme concentration of wealth during this era.
Court Injunctions
Court orders obtained by employers to legally stop strikes or other union activities, often on the grounds that they interfered with interstate commerce.
Example:
The federal government issued a court injunction during the Pullman Strike, ordering workers back to their jobs and effectively breaking the strike.
Exploitation
The act of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work, often involving low wages, long hours, and unsafe environments.
Example:
Many immigrant laborers faced severe exploitation, working for meager pay in dangerous factories because they had few other options.
Gilded Age
A period in U.S. history from the 1870s to about 1900, characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and significant wealth accumulation, but also by widespread poverty and social inequality.
Example:
During the Gilded Age, while industrialists built vast fortunes, many urban workers lived in crowded tenements and struggled with low wages.
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The first major nationwide strike in U.S. history, sparked by wage cuts, which led to widespread unrest and federal troops being called in to suppress it.
Example:
The violence and federal intervention during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 demonstrated the government's willingness to side with business over labor.
Harsh Conditions
Refers to the difficult, dangerous, and often unsanitary environments and long hours faced by industrial workers.
Example:
Workers in textile mills often endured harsh conditions, including deafening noise, poor ventilation, and the constant threat of injury from machinery.
Haymarket Riot
A violent confrontation in Chicago in 1886 during a labor protest, where a bomb was thrown, leading to public backlash against labor unions and weakening the Knights of Labor.
Example:
The negative publicity from the Haymarket Riot severely damaged the public image of labor unions and contributed to the decline of the Knights of Labor.
Homestead Strike of 1892
A violent industrial lockout and strike at Carnegie Steel's Homestead plant, where Pinkerton guards clashed with striking workers, resulting in deaths on both sides.
Example:
The bloody confrontation during the Homestead Strike of 1892 highlighted the brutal lengths to which industrialists would go to break union power.
Knights of Labor
A prominent labor organization founded in 1869 that was inclusive of all workers, regardless of skill, race, or gender, advocating for broad social and economic reforms.
Example:
The Knights of Labor famously welcomed both skilled and unskilled workers, including women and African Americans, a radical stance for its time.
Lockouts
A tactic used by employers where they close down a factory or business to prevent workers from entering and earning wages, aiming to force them to accept management's terms.
Example:
Rather than negotiate, the factory owner initiated a lockout, effectively starving the workers into submission by denying them access to their jobs.
Ludlow Massacre (1914)
A tragic event where the Colorado National Guard and company guards attacked striking coal miners and their families, resulting in numerous deaths.
Example:
The horrific Ludlow Massacre served as a stark reminder of the extreme violence that could erupt during labor disputes.
National Labor Union (NLU)
One of the first attempts to create a national labor organization in the U.S., founded in 1866, advocating for an eight-hour workday and workplace equality.
Example:
The National Labor Union represented an early, albeit short-lived, effort to unite workers across different trades for common goals.
Private Guards/Militia
Security forces, either privately hired or state-controlled, used by employers or the government to suppress strikes and protect company property.
Example:
During the tense strike, the company hired private guards to intimidate picketers, and eventually the state militia was called in to restore order.
Pullman Strike of 1894
A nationwide railroad strike that occurred when workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company protested wage cuts, leading to federal intervention and a court injunction.
Example:
Eugene V. Debs gained prominence during the Pullman Strike of 1894, which was ultimately crushed by federal troops and a sweeping injunction.
Rapid Industrial Growth
A swift and extensive expansion of manufacturing and factory production, leading to significant economic changes and urbanization.
Example:
The rapid industrial growth of the late 19th century transformed the American economy from agrarian to industrial, creating new jobs but also new social problems.
Samuel Gompers
The influential leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), known for his focus on 'pure and simple unionism' and advocating for better wages and working conditions.
Example:
Samuel Gompers' leadership steered the AFL towards practical gains for skilled workers rather than broad social reforms.
Strikebreakers/Scabs
Non-union workers hired by employers to replace striking employees, often used to undermine union efforts and continue production.
Example:
During a factory walkout, management brought in strikebreakers (also known as scabs) to keep the machines running, infuriating the striking workers.
Widening Gap
The increasing disparity between the rich and the poor, where the wealthy become significantly richer while the poor face greater hardship.
Example:
The stark contrast between opulent mansions and impoverished slums highlighted the widening gap between social classes in Gilded Age cities.
Yellow-Dog Contracts
Agreements that employers forced workers to sign as a condition of employment, pledging not to join a labor union.
Example:
To get hired, new employees had to sign a yellow-dog contract, promising they would never become a member of any union.