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These people lived in poor conditions: overcrowding in areas, unreliable water sources, faced diseases, earned low wages that was barely enough to provide them access to the necessities. This took place in the rising urbanization of cities.

The working class faced many discriminations, exploitations, and challenges:

Child labor abuse

Long work hours

Inadequate break times

Lack of job security

With the rise of mechanisms, skilled workers were laid off

Harassment towards women

Unsafe work places such as factories, mines, and many other industries

Sources: https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/cities-during-progressive-era/ , https://library.fiveable.me/american-literature-since-1860/unit-11/labor-working-class-literature/study-guide/p75FczwBXYhpOxEK

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America, with the rise of big businesses, developed into a consumer culture. These consumers craved creations that helped with saving time.

Small general stores soon were replaced by bigger department stores that held almost everything a consumer would want.

Macy's in New York

Gimbel’s in Philadelphia

Marshall Fields in Chicago

Chain stores such as A&P and Woolworth's

Families that lived in rural areas, further away from urban cities, were able to get access to a variety of items they couldn't have purchased before. These items were also reasonably priced.

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The public referred to this time as the "Great Depression" of the 1870s. The Panic of 1873 came to be due to overspeculation on railroads and the collapse of several banks.

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This was a method developed by Frederick Taylor. This method divided tasks into shorter, repetitive tasks using a stop-watch to time each task. Taylor's method was effective in the efficiency in industries.

A result of this method was the employment of women and children that could handle these short tasks.

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Twenty craft unions organized a meeting in 1886. This formed into the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Samuel Gompers, the lead of this organization until 1924, focused AFL's efforts on the economic gains for each of its members. They rarely interfered with political issues unless those issues directly impacted working conditions.

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Uriah Stephens developed the Knights of Labor (KOL) from a small presence to a well known organization by 1878.

In 1878, KOL held their first assembly and adopted a broad reform platform. This included:

A renewed call for an 8-hour workday

Equal payment regardless of gender

Getting rid of convict labor, labor from prisoners

The creation of greater cooperative enterprises with worker ownership of these businesses

As popular as the KOL was, it's popularity came crashing down. It was due to an event named the Haymarket Affair, occurring in May 4th of 1886.