HIST 2112 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HIST 2112 - Essay Example While industry had been around for quite a while before the turn of the century, this was the first time it became nearly impossible to survive in a purely rural environment. At first, many skilled workers joined unions in an attempt to save their jobs from unskilled machine workers who could do the exact same work in a factory as them for cheaper and more quickly. This did not last long, however, as more cooperation was needed for success. Often times, the actions of these unions would lead to violence, which means more problems would be caused by their protests than would be solved by them. The Coal Strikes between 1900 and 1902 became somewhat of a national crisis, as coal was a necessary commodity. The workers did gain higher wages and less hours with these strikes, although the government refused to admit that the union had anything to do with this. As time moved on, workers attempted to create a union for all to be a part of, which would end the wage system and would give the w orkers the power. These attempts were suppressed by the capitalists, however, as they knew that paying too much in wages would put a damper on the significant profits they were making during this time period. The entrepreneurs got the government involved in these disputes in order to protect their interests. The government knew that it was in its best interests to keep the capitalist entrepreneurs happy, so it did whatever it could to prevent the workers from winning these disputes. These unions were, however, important because they allowed for wages to rise and hours worked to fall for skilled workers in the United States. The lives of African Americans between 1877 and 1928 were transitional, as African Americans began to search for a niche in American society. In 1877, North troops left the South, which meant that former African American slaves in the South could no longer rely on them for political protection. Many issues