The unsuccesful trade union movement

Was America really a poverty- stricken country that was unrecognized as such due to the fact that those in authority- those with wealth- were actually emphasized as the representation of the American people? In all actuality, majority of Americans during the nineteenth century were considered poor, mainly because of the economy and the unfair industrial system. In being that the government had its share of distributed wealth, it was admissible for them to strengthen and protect big business- industry- due to the “due process” clause of the constitution. To make things even worst, several selfish ideologies and philosophies that supported the government’s actions (Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth) were established. As a result, a plethora of unions formed, which were not beneficial in bring about industrial change. The hindrance of the Union Strikes, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and the unfair tactics of the Capitalist Class concludes that the trade union movement was not only unsuccessful, but created more unnecessary obstacles for industry workers.

Some keen examples of labor unions were the National Labor Union, the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, and the Industrial Workers of the World. Their beliefs ranged from industrial workers receiving higher wages and gender/ race equality to concession from management and ownership of the means of products. These unions were initially unsuccessful mainly because it involved too much violence and the government and the U.S troops always intervened. For instance, The Railroad Strike of 1877, which involved Baltimore and Ohio employees whose wages were cut, were stopped by U.S. troops who were sent by President Hayes. The most unsuccessful strike was undoubtedly The Pullman Strike of 1844. Workers wages were cut and most were laid off at the Pullman Palace Car Company. During their strike the government that the striker were in “restraint of trade” and imposed an injunction. Trade unions were also ridiculed and persecuted- they were essentially the scapegoats in extreme acts of violence. The Haymarket Square Riot of 1886 took place because at the McCormick factory the working conditions were past poor. As a result, an unknown assailant during the process of the riot threw a bomb at a couple of police officers, killing them in the process, but the trade union had to take the wrap for promoting violence. At the Pullman Palace Car Company, wages were being cut and lots of employees were being laid off. As striking was in progress, the federal government intervened by putting an injunction into effect. The U.S. troops stopped the strike and jailed those who farther disobeyed the injunction, ultimately limiting and restricting the trade unions progression.

It is quite evident that the executive and the judicial branch supported big businesses, but the state government was unexpectedly different. They wanted to improve working condition, establish housing laws, increase wages for the workers of industry, improve the cleanliness of the workers’ surrounding, establish a stable minimum wage, and eliminate children from working in factories. Their plans however, were hindered. They were considered unconstitutional, because of the fourteenth amendment, which also gave businesses due process as well as the workers. Instead of achieving rewards for their efforts, the union received a slap in the face when the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed. Because of this law, monopoly capitalism was still preserved, and unions that went to strike for any reason would be handed and injunction or possible jail time- not better treatment or wages.

All the while the government was on the business’ side; the workers had no other alternative but to comply. Some unions were still eager to obtain equal justice and higher wages, but the Capital Class provided something much more detrimental. If a union was so well as to attempt to strike, they would be blacklisted, which prevented them from seeking employment elsewhere. Some industries abhorred unions so much that they made some workers sign contracts that stated that in the process of working, they would not participate in any unions that may emerge. Unfortunately, the Capitalists’ motivation stemmed from profit, which was their main priority. This was extremely bad for the Americans, because they were replaced with immigrants who were paid lower wages for much more intensified labor. Also, racism was going inside of industry. Based on race, a group of individuals might have gotten paid a higher or lower salary. As much as the unions tried, they were very unlucky, especially considering the fact that membership in unions never exceeded three percent. The open shops were the ones ultimately successful, not the trade union.

Attempt after attempt, the trade unions failed. They failed because they were not eternally united and essentially did not have power, or authority. The federal government was on the big business’ side which meant that the trade union had to face two forces, in addition to the U.S troops. The fourteenth Amendment was a major obstacle for the trade unions. Laws were becoming stricter and Capitalist kept seeking profit. To keep this system flowing uninterruptedly, the factories- open shops- had to make a system of blacklisting and contract signing to prevent farther chaos. As the result the government and industrial leaders won, they were the most successful. The trade union movement unfortunately was not.

Immoral Tactic that Led to an Inevitable War

What are the two fundamental elements that made Americans initially supreme? Liberty and opportunity. These elements are very well displayed from the year 1776 (when we first declared independence) to 1861 (the beginning of the Civil War). It is obvious that Americans could not handle these precious elements as shown through their taking advantage of them, eventually using them for immoral and unintelligent purpose, ultimately causing some kind of turmoil. For instance, without the restrictions of the British Parliament, colonies decided to have different constitutions (Article of Confederation), which ultimately caused inflation, an unorganized form of government, and conflict with interstate trade. Secondly, under the conditions of . Also, voting regulations were unbearable and unjust. Women (black and white) and men (black) could not participate in helping select their next commander-and-chief, ultimately giving all supremacy to one particular sect of individuals. It is obvious that a trend is existent in the "American" action, but not once has our actions not been handled without a serious consequence. This same mentality of arrogance and disrespect had led all the way up to the late 1860s, which is displayed through the actions of Bleeding Kansas, the emergence of the Free Soil Party, and Harper's Ferry Raid of 1859; therefore, it is only appropriate to state that American tactics have conclusively created a system that took advantage of liberty and used slavery to a overly emphasized extent which ultimately led to the Civil War.

Our first President (Washington) warned us in his Farewell to avoid the emergence of parties, but it was obviously foreseeable that disobedient Americans would throw his advice right out the window. Even though they were for a good cause - "free speech, free soil and free men"- immorality and differences reined as the Free Soil Party was established. To understand their emergence, the dichotomy of the North and the South must be understood. It is very apparent that the North wanted to “contain” slavery while the North wanted to “expand it”, but their reasons are what led to the Civil War. The South saw that industrial conditions for worker were dismal, unsafe, and unbearable and thought that slaves could live under better condition- all their basic needs would be met under slavery. Also, the slaves would be a profitable investment ranging from $2000 and beyond. The South knew that a slave could replace a factory worker any day. Even though this might have been true, the Northerners did not budge. They believed slavery would jeopardize industrial capitalism. The Northerner’s goal was to pay worker lower wages, not higher ones. As a result of the dichotomy the Free Soil Party emerged, which ultimately led to pity behavior- The Southerners burned free soil in the town of Lawrence inching them one step closer to the inevitable Civil War.

Documentation in Kansas and unfair policies concerning the people is another cause of the Civil War. Unfortunately, Kansas, through popular sovereignty, had enough people to apply for statehood. Through insidious arrangements the Lecompton Constitution was established. This was a document where the people could not vote on the constitution as a whole, rather on a constitution with slavery or without slavery. No matter what the people voted for, bondage and restriction would be the only outcome. Because liberty was so excessive, the proslaveryrites (those for slavery) approved the Constitution for slavery. This created political conflict with those of authority. James Buchanan was a proud supported of the proslaveryites’ decision while Senator Douglas opposed it because he was against popular sovereignty, Ultimately, Kansas become a territory after the popular vote was constructed, causing a division in the Democratic Party- now the Civil War was only millimeters away from occurring.

Is violence necessarily a good element when it comes to obtaining morality? No, but John Harper thought he could beat the system. Even though he did not support planter-slaveholders who used violent systems to control their slaves, he ultimately contradicted himself because his tactics of getting rid of them would be of violence. John’s irresponsibility led many to believe that a slave rebellion would persist. John thought that the slaves would work in collaboration with him, but before that could happen he was met by the U.S. Army and was hanged as a results of his proposed future actions. John’s thoughts inspired Northerners, but made Southern more watchful- more aware-of future mischievous actions. They were skeptical if they would have to be more watchful in terms of slave rebellions. This one death, when compared to the Civil War, was mild, but did predict a nasty ending.

Liberty plus neglect and taking advantage of opportunities equals turmoil. This equation serves to be correct, if not the Civil War would not have occurred at all. It is evident that Americans have adapted to abusing precious elements like justice and liberty, and as a result should not have expected a positive outcome. The many differences that lurked around created an unknown closeness to the war that was not predicted, as displayed through the many compromises proposed, but inevitably did. Placing bandages on all the difference only worsen the infection of the North and South, and the big nasty disease was uncontrollably revealed during the Civil War.