Farmers Problems Many farmers were in debt machines were expensive hard to figure out what size farm was most profitable big farm hit bad harvest lost everything too small no profit in good years drought was an issue railroads charged farmers a lot to ship grain railroad had monopoly could charge whatever they wanted for any distance U S money supply farmer who borrowed money was paying back more money they had received switch from green back to gold standard railroads making secret deals where grain was stored to raise prices of grain storage Solutions partial Grange Movement farmer organization to fight railroads and push state representatives to change rules and regulate railroads Farmer Alliance organization tried to educate people about loans and push for government control over banks biggest weakness did not allow African Americans to join main organization Populist Movement people s party demanded reform and lift debt off of farmers increase in money supply graduated income tax federal loan system secret ballot to prevent vote fraud 8 hour work day wanted restriction on immigrants so they wouldn t take jobs ideas were absorbed by the democratic party Industrial Workers p 450 455 Problems low wages more workers than jobs unsafe working conditions no vacation sick days compensation for injuries child labor no way to bargain with owners another person waiting to take job companies don t recognize unions won t negotiate beginning government sides with big company owners government s use of Sherman antitrust act against laborers violence from strikes and connection to socialism turns public against unions Solutions local unions weak pushed for 8 hour day equal pay for equal work etc strike last resort Craft Union skilled workers from more unions these unions use strike as major tactic succeed in shortening work days raising wages American Federation of Labor AFL lead by Samuel Gompers Industry Unions made up of people who work in a particular industry Eugene Debs sets up American Railway Union wins higher wages workers turn towards socialism government control of property and distribution of wealth Industrial Workers of the World Wobblies miner unions out west Strikes Great Strike of 1877 railroad strike ended by federal troops Haymarket Affair demonstration in Chicago started at farm machine plant bomb went off many injured riots some people hanged EFFECT turned a lot of people against labor movement Homestead Strike against Andrew Carnegie s wage cut armed guards fight and many died government sent guards and ended it Pollman Company Strike Eugene Debs lead it railroad strike cutting off wages laying off people ended by strike enders Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire 146 women died all fire exits blocked brought attention to bad conditions Urbanization Cities p 468 472 Problems grown too rapidly due to immigration and industrialization no planning inadequate housing bad transportation bad water and sanitation bad education bad medical care lots of crime fires may not be water when needed firefighters volunteers First Efforts Social Gospel Movement early version of settlement house movement Settlement house movement community houses in slum neighborhoods who gave help to people especially immigrants help to injured people sick people women Jane Addams most influential in movement