Modern America: Radical Labor Movement Radical Labor in the Age of Reform, 1877-1920 Bruce Laurie, Professor of History, UMass Amherst Developed from a Teaching American History colloquium held on April 12, 2008 Background:​ Beginning in the 1870s, America underwent a second industrial revolution driven by the metal industries. For the worker, opportunities abounded; the United States experienced a massive migration from country to city, while immigrant workers flocked to America from Eastern and Southern Europe. As industrial wealth grew, so did class divisions and class unrest. In this period, a succession of organizations sought to mobilize workers according to a variety of ideologies and structures. Labor unions achieved a number of important industrial reforms.

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Primary Sources: ●

Alien and Sedition Acts​, 1798 Annotation: ​These four laws were passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress and signed by President John Adams as the United States prepared for war with France.Negative public reaction to these laws propelled the Democratic-Republicans to victory in the 1800 elections. The Naturalization Act was repealed in 1802, while the others were allowed to expire. 1. What did the Alien and Sedition Acts do? 2. What groups would be most affected by the Acts?

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Preamble to the Knights of Labor Constitution​, 1878. Annotation: ​The Knights of Labor, headed by Terrence Powderly, represented the largest industrial union movement before the 1930s. The members, over 2 million workers at its peak, were organized along craft lines. 1. What were the goals of the Knights of Labor? 2. To whom does the “producers”refer? 3. What position do the Knights of Labor take on strikes?

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Preamble to the A.F.L. Constitution​, 1886. Annotation: ​The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. The AFL focused their efforts on working conditions and relegated political goals to the background. 1. What were the goals of the AFL? 2. What was a trade or labor union? How were they organized?

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Industrial Union Manifesto​, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies), 1905. Annotation: ​By the 20​th​ century, the new immigrant workforce helped transform labor unions. The IWW was founded in 1905 to achieve radical change for the worker. The founders believed the AFL had failed to organize workers and had instead further divided them.

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1. What were the goals of the Wobblies? 2. What does this document say about craft unions? 3. What role does class play in labor reform, according to the IWW? ●

Lochner v. New York​, 1905. Annotation: ​In this case, the United States Supreme Court overturned an 1898 New York law limiting bakery work to eight hours a day. Justice Peckham, who wrote the majority opinion, demonstrated that the Supreme Court would view employers and employees as equal partners. 1. What does Justice Peckham say about the right of free contract? What does he mean? Why is this significant? 2. What role does the 14​th​ Amendment play in this decision? 3. What does this case demonstrate about regulation in this period?

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Muller v. Oregon​, 1908. Annotation: ​In the early 20​th​ century, Oregon passed a law limiting the hours of women’s labor. In Muller v. Oregon, the United States Supreme Court upheld this law. 1. What reasons does Justice Brewer give for upholding the Oregon law? What does he say about women as workers? 2. What is paternalism? How does that concept relate to this case?

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Socialist Party of America, ​National Referendum B​, May 5, 1917 Annotation:​ In May of 1917, the Socialist Party of America presented this referendum to its membership, which presented majority and minority recommendations.The majority report stated the Party’s firm opposition to the war and passed by an overwhelming majority of the membership. 1. Who does the Party hold responsible for America’s entry into the War? 2. What measures will the Party take in opposition to the War?

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Immigration Act of 1917

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Annotation: ​The United States Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over the veto of President Wilson.It was one in a series of increasingly restrictive immigration laws that found popular support. 1. Who does this Act seek to exclude from immigrating to the United States? 2. What additional requirements does the Act create to further restrict immigration? ●

The National Labor Relations Act​ or the Wagner Act, 1935. Annotation:​ In 1935, President Roosevelt signed into law the National Labor Relations Act (also known as the Wagner Act, after Senator Robert Wagner from New York). The early 1930s were wracked with violent confrontations between workers and the police. This act gave workers the right to organize and provided a bureaucratic solution to the conflicts. 1. How does this document aim to end confrontation between workers and employers? What kind of language is included in the act? 2. What is the National Labor Relations Board? What does it do? 3. How are businesses regulated? How are unions regulated?

Secondary Sources ●

Bruce Laurie. ​Artisans Into Workers: Labor in 19th Century America. New York: Hill & Wang, 1989. Artisans Into Workers is a comprehensive study of the transition to factory labor. Laurie excels at describing the rise of early unions and the experiences of both organized and unorganized workers.

In the Classroom -Compare the excerpts from the Knights of Labor and AFL constitutions. What were the differences between the two organizations? What were the goals of each? What methods did they use to achieve those goals? Who was allowed to join? -Compare the decisions in Lochner v. New York and Muller v. Oregon. Why did the court react differently to these two cases? Imagine how unions and other reform groups might have responded to these decisions.

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Enduring Understanding -How did unions shape labor reform?

Relevant Standards: National History Standards (UCLA) -The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) ●

Standard 1: How Progressives and others addressed problems of industrial capitalism, urbanization, and political corruption

Massachusetts Frameworks U.S. II Industrial America and Its Emerging Role in International Affairs, 1870-1920 USII.5 Explain the formation and goals of unions as well as the rise of radical political parties during the Industrial era. (H, E) A. the Knights of Labor B. the American Federation of Labor headed by Samuel Gompers C. the Populist Party D. the Socialist Party headed by Eugene Debs The Age of Reform: Progressivism and the New Deal, 1900-1940 USII.10 Describe how the battle between traditionalism and modernity manifested itself in the major historical trends and events after World War I and throughout the 1920s. (H) A. the Boston police strike in 1919 B. the Red Scare and Sacco and Vanzetti

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