L14: Labor's Response to Industrialism

Which of these generalizations was NOT true of factory workers in the late 1800s?

• They worked six days a week for ten or more hours a day.

• They performed repetitive tasks in hazardous environments.

• They put up with poor working conditions to keep their jobs.

• They relied on political bosses to improve their wages and hours.

What did the Pullman Strike, Haymarket Affair, and Homestead Strike have in common?

• They were defeats for owners.

• They were victories for unions.

• They were marked by violence.

• They were organized by anarchists.

Which of the following is generally NOT considered one of the "bread-and-butter" objectives of labor unions?

• higher wages

• cheaper housing

• shorter work hours

• better working conditions

Which of these is a weapon used by labor unions when negotiations with business owners fail?

• strike

• lawsuit

• court injunction

• collective bargaining

Who headed the American Railway Union and led the fight against management during the Pullman Strike?

• Henry Frick

• Jane Addams

• Eugene Debs

• Rose Schneiderman

Which of the following was a danger of living in tenements in impoverished areas?

• Police officers often raided tenements.

• People who lived in tenements could not vote.

• Disease flourished in the conditions of tenements.

• Residents were often very far from the cities.

What is significant about the Railroad Strike of 1877?

• It marks the first time that the U.S. army was used to break a strike.

• It was the longest lasting labor strike in American history.

• It was the first affective strike in the United States.

• It resulted in the death of thousands of protestors.

What is one improvement labor unions achieved?

• Their wages almost doubled in amount.

• They were guaranteed higher pay on holidays.

• They had to have two days off a week.

• Their average work hours per week fell to 49.

What is the writer of this poem discussing?

“Nearly any hour on the East Side of New York City you can see them––pallid boy or spindling girl––their faces dulled, their backs bent under a heavy load of garments piled on head and shoulders.” ––Edwin Markham, 1907

• He is trying to piece together an artful description of the children who work in the factories.

• He is describing a typical industrial street scene and bringing attention to child labor.

• He is praising the fact that employing children increases the work force for factory efficiency.

• He is condemning child labor and vowing to devote his future efforts to improving work conditions.

Which of the following best describes the difference between farm work and factory work during the age of industrialism?

• Most farm work involved laboring outside while most factory work involved laboring indoors.

• Farm workers performed a variety of tasks while factory workers were each assigned one task.

• The majority of farm jobs involved adults while the majority of factory jobs employed children.

• Working on a farm required physical endurance while working in a factory required intellectual knowledge.