CCBC DUNDALK LABOR STUDIES
LBST 135 HISTORY OF AMERICAN LABOR II
Bill Barry-Program Director
STUDY GUIDE TO LABOR’S UNTOLD STORY
These questions are to help you focus on the important elements of the book. The first section involves identifications--tell what this term means, who it was, and why it is important to understanding workers history. The second section involves discussion questions for you to consider.
Obviously, it will help you if you look further . . .
CHAPTER I
CIO William Sylvis
J.P. Morgan Chattel slavery
The National Labor Union Homestead Act of 1862
Dred Scott decision Ira Seward
Samuel F.B. Morse abolitionist
Do you agree with the opinion of Dr. James H. Thornwell about the abolitionists?
How was slave labor a threat to “free” labor? Did all workers understand this threat?
How did workers and their unions respond to the Civil War? Do you agree with their actions?
Describe the contributions of William Sylvis to the development of the union movement. What is memorable about his life?
Describe the rise and fall of the National Labor Union between 1866-1872.
What were producers’ co-ops and would they be effective today?
CHAPTER II
The Great Barbeque John Siney
The Panic of 1873 Workmens Benevolent Association
Avondale Mine disaster Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.)
Robber barons Franklin Benjamin Gowen
Alan Pinkerton (The Pinks) Greenback Labor Party
James McParlan red scare
Describe the miners strike, which began on January 1, 1875.
How did The Workmans Benevolent Association show a mixture of ethnic solidarity and unionism.
Describe the history of the Mollie Maguires.
The decision issued by Judge John Holden Owes in the case of Xeno Parkes and John Siney represented an important trend in workers history. Why?
What happened in the railroad strike of 1877?
CHAPTER III
contract labor Trusts, vertical and horizontal
Henry Ford Samuel Gompers
Terrence V. Powderly 8-hour shoes
Peter Maguire Jay Gould
Compare the immigration patterns of 1880-1890 with current trends. How did this immigration affect the workers movement? How did the unions respond? Is it different today?
Frank Emspak [see attached] would agree that John Swinton’s Paper served a useful function for the labor movement? Why?
Albert and Lucy Parsons are considered a working-class hero/heroine. Why? Do you agree? Describe her life after the execution of her husband.
Explain how the push for the 8-hour day was an economic, political, social and cultural movement.
What really happened at Haymarket?
Explain how many new inventions dramatically changed the lives of workers.
Who were the Knights of Labor?
CHAPTER IV
Sherman Anti-Trust Act American Railway Union
Sockless Jerry Simpson Farmers Alliance
John Peter Altgeld Clarence Darrow
Henry Clay Frick Ignatius Donnelly
National Civic Federation National Association of Manufacturers
Pullman strike President Grover Cleveland
plutocrats Danbury Hatters case
Its supporters claimed that the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was the right union for the times? Do you agree?
AAt the moment industrial unions became a necessity, the prevailing method of labor organization became that of comparatively small and separate groups.@ Do you agree?
What happened during the development of the Populist Party?
Eugene V. Debs played an important role in both the labor history of the 19th century and on the development of the UAW. Explain.
Both the Populists and the AFL tried to deal with the question of race. How did each organization do it?
CHAPTER V
Western Federation of Miners United Mine Workers
industrial unionism Coxey’s Army
Homestead strike Ed Boyce
Harry Orchard Mother Jones
The Western Federation of Miners tried to “bargain politically” to win the shorter work day. How did they do it? Were they successful? Do you think the same tactics could work today?
What influences shaped the life of William “Big Bill” Haywood?
The Western Federation of Miners developed “community unionism.” How did they do it?
Union organizing in Colorado in the 1890s has been called “the Colorado mine wars.” Do you think this is an appropriate title?
How were the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) different from other unions at the time of 1905? How did it establish the foundation for the UAW?
What happened in the famous Haywood/Moyer/Pettibone trial of 1906-07?
CHAPTER VI
wobblies Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
Sam “Golden Rule” Jones muckrakers
the Clayton Anti-Trust Act the Buck Stove and Range court case
boycott The Triangle Shirt fire
The IWW did not believe in signing union contracts, relying instead on the organization in the workplace. Do you think this was a good strategy?
The “free speech” fights of the IWW led the way for the organizing of the UAW. Do you agree?
What happened in the famous “bread and roses” strike in Lawrence, in 1912?
How did women play a more important role in labor history?
How did the Progressive Period change American politics?
Describe Samuel Gompers and explain why he is a famous figure in labor history.
Describe the differences between the AFL and the IWW.
Explain how Immigrant workers began to play an important role in labor history.
Who was involved in the Ludlow Massacre?
CHAPTER VII
J.P. Morgan Robert LaFollette
Tom Mooney East St. Louis riots
Stock Yards Labor Council open shop
J. Edgar Hoover William Green
The meeting between Eugene Debs and Samuel Gompers in the Atlanta prison in 1921 represented the two different directions of the American union movement. Explain.
Explain how the great steel strike of 1919 represented a new direction for American labor.
The “red scare” was an effective weapon of the employers against unionism. Explain how it was used.
What happened in the Palmer raids?
Racism effectively divided American workers after World War I. Explain how both employers, union leaders and ordinary workers were affected.
The American Legion has an unusual history. Describe the early years of this organization.
U.S. Attorney General Harry Micajah Daugherty stated (p. 217) that the role of the federal government was “to prevent the labor unions of the country from destroying the open shop.” What did he mean and do you agree?
CHAPTER VIII
Andrea Salsedo Warren G. Harding
the Scopes trial “stretch-out”
Jim Crow policies Heywod Broun
Prohibition Trade Union Educational League (TUEL)
Ben Gold Hoovervilles
The 1920s are often called “the Roaring 20s.” What does this term indicate about the writing of history?
Describe the history of the Ku Klux Klan and its effect on unionism.
Explain how immigration-both external and internal-affected American unionism in the period after World War I. How did native-born white American workers respond? Do you see any similarities with 2001?
Do you agree with Frank Vanderlip, who stated that “Capital kept too much and labor did not have enough to buy its share of things” as a cause of the Depression?
Describe the history of the Sacco and Vanzetti case, and how it became an international controversy..
The furriers strike of 1926 represented several important changes for this union. Explain.
William Sylvis had insisted that the American “labor could not prosper unless it included” black workers. How did this statement apply to unionism of the 1920s?
Samuel Gompers described unemployment payments as “a dole” which would degrade “the dignity of the workingman.” How does this statement reflect the changes in unionism since 1929?
CHAPTER IX
“Don’t Starve-Fight” Louis Weinstock
Fiorello LaGuardia (R-NY) Scottsboro boys
Harry Bennett Franklin D. Roosevelt
Section 7(a) John L. Lewis
Federal Laboratories, Inc. Mohawk Valley Formula
Black Legion Harry Bridges
Workers were conditioned to believe in individual advancement, so they often felt that the Depression and their unemployment was their fault. Do you agree? Dopes this same feeling apply today?
The Unemployed Councils were an example of community-based direct action. Explain
What was the Bonus March and was it a communist conspiracy?
Explain how “Federal charters” were a way for the AFL to hold back industrial unionism.
Describe the anti-union efforts of the National Association of Manufacturers. What activities does the NAM carry out in 2001?
Describe the “labor spy” industry.
What happened in the longshoremens’ strike of 1934?
CHAPTER X
Wagner Labor Act Sitdown strike
Committee for Industrial Organization Powers Hapgood
Congress for Industrial Organization Skilled Tool and Die Makers
Wyndham Mortimer Sidney Hillman
Governor Frank Murphy WPA
Memorial Day Massacre Philip Murray
Do you agree that:”The CIO was the leaping flame suddenly blazing bright in the long night of the open shop”? (p. 255)
In 1935, at the AFL Convention, John L. Lewis landed “the punch heard ‘round the world.” Explain what happened. What did this fight represent for American unionism?
The development of the United Auto Workers (UAW) was one of the most important events in American labor history. Do you agree? How did it happen?
Explain the Great Authority’s statement that”the reward for union leadership is often a term in jail.”
How did the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) build upon the success of the UAW?
How were the two organizations different?
CHAPTER XI
Edward Stettinius no-strike pledge
War Labor Board Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC)
Smith-Connolly Act (1944) loyalty oath
Sir John Maynard Keynes Philip Murray
George Meany “Certificates of necessity”
Anglo-American Productivity Council Walter Reuther
The Great Authority said “after December, 1941, workers fought while their employers got rich.” Do you agree?
Explain how CIO-PAC’s efforts in the 1944 elections were a preview of labor=s political action.
Explain how he period of World War II was, in some ways, a huge advance for both women and black workers.
The 1946 strikes were the largest in US history. Describe what happened.
What did Charles “Light Bulb” Wilson mean when he said “The problems of the United States can be captiously summed up in two words: Russia abroad, Labor at home”?
The passage of the Taft-Hartley Act was an example of business political action. How did they run their campaign?
How did the Taft-Hartley Act impact unions after1947?
John W. Livingston expressed concerns about the Marshall Plan. What were they?
Why, and how, did John L. Lewis oppose the Taft-Hartley Act?
Show how Phillip Murray=s position toward the Taft-Hartley Act changed between 1946 and 1949.
The “decentralization” program formalized in 1950 had an extreme impact of American unions. Explain why.
CHAPTER XII
The authors claim (p. 373) “The New Deal had become only a symbol under Truman but under Eisenhower it became a symbol for treason.” Explain.
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