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Steel Railroads
In 1856 extended west to Mississippi and in 1859 across Missouri. Steel railroads made local transit reliable and westward expansion possible for business as well as for people. -
National Labor Union Is Founded
At a confrence in Baltimore, Maryland on August 20, 1866, skilled, unskilled, farmers and workers came together to call on congress to mandate an eight-hour workday. This union was so important to the labor movement because it prevents employers from taking advantage of employees. -
The Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor picked up where the National Labor Union fedt off and attempted to unite skilled and unskilled workers to campaign for economic and social reform, and safety and health codes for workers. -
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was one of the first time workers were able to organize and create a work stoppage that affected industry from the atlantic to the pacific . It lasted 45 days and affected 100,000 railroad workers, showing the power of the union. In order to stop this strike, President Rutherford B. Hays called in federal troops. -
Haymarket Square Riot
A peaceful rally by workers to get an eight hour workday, turned a violent riot in Haymarket Square, Chicago. This riot resulted in the deaths of workers and policemen and was responsible for delaying approval of the eight hour workday. The public dislike for labor movement was a serious setback for the unions and their efforts to improve industrial working. conditions. -
Federation Of Labor was founded
Known as the American Federation Of Labor (AFL), it consisted of an alliance of craft unions that did not follow the same beliefs as the Knights Of Labor. -
The Homestead Strike
The Homestead Strike was a strike that turned violent. The strike affected the Iron and Steel infustries in Pennsylvania. The National guard had to be called in to resolve the riots. This event effected the steel mills. The American Labor Movement was affected by the Homestead Strike because another union was not established for thirty more years in the steel industry. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike involved the railroad inustry in Illinois. It was started as a result of the way George Pullman treated his workers. Workers started a wildcat strike which is a strike unauthorized by the Union. It was caused a reduction in wages for employees, and the strike was broken up and nothing was accomplished.
