I will say this about the New Deal. The "deal" part of the New Deal was an agreement with major businesses to stop enforcing antitrust laws (which WERE enforced vigorously during the 1920s; something we don't ordinarily associate with the laissez-faire of the time) in return for tolerating labour organising and collective bargaining. That was how the US wound up with the "Big Three" steel producers and "Big Four" automakers, which had "sweetheart contracts" with appropriate labour unions by 1940. And on the state level, things like Public Utilities Commissions requiring a "certificate of neccesity and convenience" for say, new trucking companies that would compete with existing truckers and which existing truckers had a handle for fighting. And later on, the FAA setting airline routes --and rates. The airlines did not compete on price until the 1970s. This in return for a unionised workforce with raises in real wages guaranteed by good work and seniority and a union grievance system that made it difficult to fire an employee, except in the office, which was considered management and illegal to organise. It was a system that provided stable jobs until retirement at 65 for employees--and a tightly controlled entry process to those jobs. Union jobs and apprenticeships were often reserved for the sons of existing union members. (And yes, women …show more content…
Ships plied the Pacific in great numbers with the first containerised freight (of military hardware and supplies. On the return trip, rather than return with empty containers, the ships began to stop at Japan and fill those containers with inexpensive Japanese cars and TVs and other electronic appliances. It was the beginning of Japan's real economic boom. And the beginning of the end for US competitiveness in a host of areas, which gave us the economy we see
The five events I have chosen are the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Moral Majority, and the Kenneth Starr investigation of President Bill Clinton.
The Vietnam War was first derived from the gradual oppression of the communist party of the north over the region of South Vietnam. The North Communist party was supported mainly by China and the Soviet Union whiles the Anti-Communist party of South Vietnam was supported by United States and France. The communist party group, as known as the Viet Cong, was recognized for their guerilla war strategies within the region of South Vietnam, intended to fully expand and unify Vietnam under Communist rule. U.S. involvement with the Vietnam War starting in November 1, 1955, develops from the theory of the domino effect, stating that if one country falls into communism, a threat that can develop into the encouragement and spread of communism throughout the world in the future. It is basically viewed as a potential harm to the welfare of the United Sates. Therefore, due to the conflicting forces of the historical, political, economic and cultural nature of the war itself, it is known to be the longest enduring war in United States history that altered many lives of the Vietnamese and American community, leading to suffrage and acts of courage.
The political instability in Vietnam from 1950 to 1975 between the communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam during the Cold War era has led to the United States’ inevitable intervention in Vietnam. The main motivators for the United States’ incremental decision to intervene and commitment in Vietnam can be viewed as an accumulation of socio-political, political and economic catalysts. In recognition that there were many other factors that may have contributed to the U.S’s involvement in the conflict in Vietnam, this essay will largely focus on these three factors. As the cold war resonates, the American’s crusade was propelled by the fears of the domino theory and perception of Communist threat and expansion affected the
Imagine your parents died at work when you were a young child, and your family was in poverty. This happened all of the time in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s because of the lack of rights for workers. It was the job of many early labor unions of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s make working conditions for workers better. Early labor unions such as the Knights of Columbus, the American Federation of Labor, and the National Labor Union were all successful in creating rights for workers and making working conditions better. There are many ways that labor unions have affected modern day society.
1. Alfred Smith was attacked/smeared in the 1928 election because of religious differences (Catholic) and the prosperity of the ‘20s the Republicans took credit of.
This was even truer in the 1870s-1890s because many big businesses had been successful in removing the skills required to do many jobs in manufacturing, tailoring, and other industries (Source D). Many workers were also forced to sign “yellow-dog contracts” saying they would not associate with or join a union while under their employ (Source E).
I am not deep, but I am very wide-Throughout the period 1865 to 1992, the government was both a help and hindrance to the trade union movement. Roosevelt’s New Deal represented a brief turning point in the Federal government’s attitude towards labour rights, prior to which its laissez-faire approach to the economy had significantly favoured employers by granting them more power to abuse the rights of labourers. The New Deal of 1933 was set out with the intention of fostering better relations between the employers and the workforce, as well as helping establish new
Over thirty years ago the Vietnam War ended, and the U.S. came back home with their tails between their legs and nothing to show for other than a high number of casualties, and a huge pile of debt. The U.S. underestimated the North Vietnamese army, and it was costly. Many believe that the Vietnam War was none of the U.S. business, but on the contrary, many believe we should have tried to stop the spread of communism. The long-lasting Vietnam War was unnecessary for the U.S. to be a part of; it put many people through unneeded stress and hard times.
Unions were formed to protect and improve the rights of workers. Their first order of business was to establish the eight-hour workday and in 1866, the national labor union was formed. Labor movements were around before 1866, but few organized up until this point. Unions created an environment for workers with difficult tasks, creating better pay, safer work conditions, and sanitary work conditions. Unions made life better for many Americans in the private sector. Collective bargaining became the way in which employers and a group of employees reached agreements, coming to a common consensus. From 1866 to the early 1900’s Unions continued to make headways increasing membership and power. The real gains started in 1933 after several pieces of legislature, which saved banks, plantations, and farmers. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) proposed an important, and controversial, amendment to the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. It insisted that language from the pro-labor Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 be added to the simple declaration of the right to collective bargaining. The setbacks the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) suffered in Little Steel and textiles in the latter half of 1937, and in Congress from 1938 to 1940, despite the gains made by the AFL, by 1940 the amendment had stalled. WWII created a rapid buildup within the industrial complex, creating more work for women and African Americans, overshadowing the union’s inability to project their power
The United States began to reach outward for trade, showing interest in Japan. Almost forcing the country to begin to trade with the U.S.
When the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) first started they hired thousands of Chinese workers to build their railways. They treated these workers terribly but by the pre Second World War period the railway industry was one of the most unionized industries in North America. In Canada most skilled and semi-skilled railway workers were covered by union contracts in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time the Canadian railway work force was comprised of long term employees to a much greater extent than before the First World War. In this essay I hope to convey how unions increased job stability for railway workers. It is hard to pinpoint how exactly unions increased job stability because there were many other factors that could have helped. However,
Prior to the 1800’s, there were few unions in the United States. Most Americans worked as craftsmen or owned a family farm. In the early nineteenth century, factories began operating and vast amount of workers began moving to the city to take wage jobs at
The rise of the Big Business transformed rural America to an industrialized urban nation that became to be known as the Gilded Age. During this time most Americans worked 10 to 16 hour shifts, 6 days out of the week with a wage that was below the poverty line. Even though they worked extremely inhumane hour shifts, it was barely enough for them and their families to survive. During this era men, women, and children performed harsh labor in factories and mills until their bodies could bear no more. Throughout the age of the big business, children as young as 8 years old were put to work and were denied the chance to go to school, there was no benefits, no medical coverage, and if the workers became injured while on the job it was overlooked and was seen as if nothing had happened and were fired and replaced by someone else. Workers were being taken advantage of, but they realized something had to be done in order for change to occur, so they unionized. An important factor they acknowledged was that there were more workers than owners so unions were created. During this period of time unions were extremely needed in order to improve working conditions, protect workers, and fight for higher wages. Likewise, Unions were successful, because during this time the seed was planted toward unity and as of today we can appreciate safer working conditions, higher wages, and more opportunity.
Unionism is the concept that traditionally business, especially big businesses are inherently going to exploit their employees. Therefore, in order to protect themselves, the workers form organizations called unions, in which all laborers who work at a certain craft, or in a certain industry band together. By this process of “joining forces”, the unions gain power in numbers. Unions traditionally try to protect employee interests by negotiating with employers for wages and benefits, working hours, and better working conditions.
State Department of Labor as a direct result of pressure from organized labor (MacLaury). Shortly after the creation of the Department of Labor, the Great Recession hit the nation. With the depression came an increased unemployment and lesser wages however significant legislation was also created during that time that impacted union membership. The most significant law was the Fair Labor Standards Act. Following shortly after this FLSA, the United States amended the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Occupations Health and Safety Act of 1970. Although these acts were supported by the power of unions, these acts in particular impact union membership which will be discussed later in the paper. It was at this time in the nation’s history that unions began to see a decline in membership. Unions today cast a wide umbrella of membership and consist of trade unions such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Laborers International Union of North America to service unions such as the United Food and Commercial Workers. Although their membership has declined, unions that were once affiliated with a defined group skilled labor employees now can be found in almost any industry representing any group of employees.