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“I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half.”
— Jay Gould, powerful railroad tycoon, 1886

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Who: Mostly immigrants, women, and children in factories, mines, and railroads.

What: People working long hours for low pay in unsafe conditions.

Where: Urban industrial centers like New York, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.

When: Late 1800s–early 1900s

Why: Industrialization created a demand for cheap labor.

How: Workers began to organize for better conditions.

Impact: Sparked the beginning of labor unions and strikes for rights.

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“Advertising is the genie which makes men desire what they do not need.”
— William Allen White, newspaper editor, 1900s

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Who: Middle and working class Americans.

What: Rise of mass production and advertising.

Where: Nationwide: especially in cities.

When: Late 1800s early 1900s.

Why: Economic growth made consumer goods more accessible.

How: Industrialization + department stores + mail order catalogs.

Impact: Workers became both laborers and consumers, influencing wages and working conditions.

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“We are on the verge of chaos...the laborer walks the streets in search of bread.”
— New York Times, 1873

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Who: Affected banks, businesses, and especially workers.

What: Major economic depression caused by railroad speculation and bank failures.

Where: Nationwide, with severe effects in industrial centers.

When: Began in 1873, lasted several years.

Why: Over investment in railroads and lack of banking regulations.

How: Triggered wage cuts and unemployment.

Impact: Fueled worker anger and led to increased labor organizing.

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“In the past the man has been first; in the future the system must be first.”
— Frederick Winslow Taylor, 1911, in The Principles of Scientific Management*

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Who: Developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor.

What: A method to increase efficiency by breaking tasks into smaller steps.

Where: Used in factories across the U.S.

When: Late 1800s to early 1900s.

Why: To make production more efficient and profitable.

How: Timed tasks, reduced need for skilled labor.

Impact: Increased profits but created pushback from workers due to monotonous and exhausting labor.

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“We mean to uphold the dignity of labor.”
— Terence V. Powderly, Knights of Labor leader

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Who: Founded by Uriah Stephens; later led by Terence Powderly.

What: Inclusive labor union

Where: National, but strongest in industrial cities.

When: Founded in 1869, grew in 1880s.

Why: Wanted broad social reforms and better working conditions.

How: Organized strikes, rallies, and political activism.

Impact: Popular until the Haymarket Riot in 1886 hurt its reputation.

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“We want more schoolhouses and less jails.”
— Samuel Gompers, AFL founder

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Who: Led by Samuel Gompers.

What: Union of skilled workers focused on wages, hours, and conditions.

Where: Major industrial regions.

When: Founded in 1886.

Why: Response to failures of broader unions like Knights of Labor.

How: Collective bargaining and strikes.

Impact: One of the most influential labor unions in U.S. history.