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Post by griffink on Jan 29, 2016 0:52:22 GMT
Griffin Kardos Paul Bargar Nich Nolasco Allan Beilin
Organized labor failed to establish itself as a viable force in Gilded Age America, not because it faced hostile combinations and unsympathetic government, but because it ran counter to the doctrine of "rugged individualism." Assess the validity of this statement for the period 1875-1900.
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Post by griffink on Jan 29, 2016 5:21:53 GMT
Prompt, explanation on what it asks and what is important. Why the test makers chose what they did: This prompt concerns labor unions in the time period post reconstruction and pre progressive era. The question asks to assess the validity of the statement that these unions failed because they ran contrary to the rugged individualism philosophy, and not because of hostile combinations or an unsympathetic government. In other words its asking whether the reason unions failed was because of hostile combinations, groups of people organized against the unions, such as the corporations whose interests the unions ran against, and because of the government either not taking a stance to help the unions or actively working against the unions in agreement with the corporations; or, whether the unions failed because the doctrine of "rugged individualism" permeated society to such an extent that the unions failed without the interference of companies and the government, or whether their failure stemmed from some mixture of these causes.
Important to keep in mind here are what the various strikes and labour movements were, and what it was that caused them to fail in each circumstance. Think how the government and anti-union forces acted in these times. Make sure to define all the terms, especially rugged individualism.
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Post by paulbargar on Jan 29, 2016 5:47:00 GMT
Key Terms: Labor Unions Molly Maguires The Knights of Labor AFL National Labor Union Corporations Little Shop Floor Autocrats Railroad Strike of 1877 Haymarket Square Riot Homestead Strike Pullman Strike John Peter Altgeld President Grover Cleveland Rugged Individualism Self Made Man
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Post by allanbeilin on Jan 29, 2016 7:25:18 GMT
Thesis: Organized labor did fail to establish itself as a viable force in Gilded Age America, but this was not because it ran counter to the doctrine of "rugged individualism," but because labor movements posed a threat to big business, labor movements and unions lacked widespread unity and support, and because the government's interest of maintaining a laissez-faire economic policy did not lend itself to the recognition and support of organized labor, which was seen as a hindrance to industrialization and economic growth.
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Post by allanbeilin on Jan 29, 2016 7:34:55 GMT
Body Paragraph 1: -Strength of big business in emerging industrial economy -Fierce competition -Advent of the corporate system -Immigrants willing to work for lower wages -Ruthless suppression of strikes and revolts Body Paragraph 2: -Lack of unity among various labor factions -Inability to create significant statewide or nationwide organized labor movements -Again, replaceability due to cheap immigrant labor -Peaceful and non-confrontational strikes -Lack of popular support outside the labor class Body Paragraph 3: -Federal government's policy of non-interventionism in economy -Dispatch of federal troops to crush strikes -Federal alignment with big business -Refusal to meet any demands of labor
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