Labor History and Strikes Overview

The video covers the history and impact of unions in the U.S., focusing on collective bargaining, major strikes like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Haymarket Affair, and the Pullman Strike. It discusses the tactics used by both unions and employers, the role of federal intervention, and the eventual decline in union power due to legal and economic challenges.

What is the primary purpose of collective bargaining?

• To increase company profits

• To negotiate terms between employers and employees

• To reduce the number of employees

• To promote international trade

What triggered the Great Railroad Strike of 1877?

• A natural disaster

• A new government policy

• Wage cuts for the second time in a year

• Introduction of new machinery

How did the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 end?

• Workers received a wage increase

• The workers formed a new union

• The strike was stopped by federal troops

• The company went bankrupt

What was the outcome of the Haymarket Affair?

• Immediate wage increases

• Formation of a new political party

• Peaceful resolution

• Several deaths and a significant impact on labor history

What event led to the Haymarket Affair?

• A peaceful protest

• A natural disaster

• A strike meeting broken up by police gunfire

• A government policy change

What was a key issue in the Pullman Strike?

• Introduction of new technology

• Wage cuts without rent reductions

• A new government policy

• A natural disaster

How did the Pullman Strike end?

• The workers formed a new union

• The company went bankrupt

• The strike was forcibly stopped by federal troops

• Workers received a wage increase

What legal tool did employers use to weaken unions?

• The Fair Labor Standards Act

• The National Labor Relations Act

• The Sherman Antitrust Act

• The Civil Rights Act

What was a consequence of the decline in union power?

• Employers refusing to recognize unions

• Higher wages for all workers

• More strikes and protests

• Increased union membership

Who still supported unions despite their decline in power?

• Unskilled laborers

• Skilled tradesmen

• Government officials

• Business owners