Lesson 5: Labor's Struggles

Which of these specific lessons do you believe to be the most important to teach a class about American History in the second-half of the Nineteenth Century? Why do you believe this is the most critical information for students to learn?

Please make your initial post at least two (2) paragraphs long of minimum 600 words and include specific historical details, processes, and/or people to support your arguments.

I believe Labor's Struggles is the most important lesson to teach a class during the second half of the Nineteenth Century. Labor struggles in the United States of America have continued to be a significant aspect of the working class of citizens. This aspect is because American society is highly capitalistic, and many wealthy individuals who control resources want to maximize profits without compromising on other forms of expenditure. For example, the country was highly reliant on slave labor, majorly within the southern states for many centuries. These enslaved people worked on huge plantations, and the plantation owners enjoyed the profits without consideration for the welfare of the enslaved people. During the second half of the 19th century and at the onset of the 20th century, a new system emerged that did not consider certain aspects of human rights. For example, child labor was rampant. Those who worked in firms and factories had to do so in dilapidated conditions and low pay. While the country has made great strides in redefining some stances on the labor laws and worker treatment, there is still a significant need to teach present students about the grim history of the country's labor movement and situation.

             When teaching about the labor struggles in the second half of the 19th century, it is critical to teach learners why governments failed to protect citizens' interests despite being protected by the constitution. For example, the learners should learn that it was difficult for the government to offer maximum labor rights protection to African Americans who were formerly enslaved people for various reasons. The first reason is that most of them came from being owned to having nothing but their freedom. This aspect made it difficult for them to empower themselves economically; therefore, many of them resorted to working for their white masters, who still saw the need to exploit them. Second, there were inadequacies in labor laws because in as much we can say that the country had a central form of governance from the previous century, it was still difficult to control all aspects of the economy and the country. For example, the government could not keep tabs on all the employers who mistook their employees like today when technology has made everything easier. Third, it is essential to note to the learners that this period witnessed numerous labor struggles because capitalism was beginning to take its roots. Many people were scrambling for resources that were yet to be exploited. This necessity made labor to be highly in demand. Many people wanted jobs, and to get them, they had to endure the employers' terms, which meant agreeing to any form of exploitation.

       Teaching about the labor struggles during the second half of the 19th century is significant to modern students because it will be an eye-opener to some of the country's struggles. For example, during this period, many American workers had to endure dangerous and dire situations at the hands of their employers, who did not see them as fellow humans but just as an army of workers. Second, this period was also considered the most important in the country's history. The great reconstruction was experienced, paving the way for some of the significant infrastructure that we see today. For example, modern learners will understand the struggles that some Americans endured at the hands of the rail builders, who made them work in dangerous situations. Third, the history of this period is crucial because it will also ensure that the learners understand why we currently have stringent labor laws. For example, without modern labor laws such as minimum wages, we could still see many people working for menial and difficult jobs only to be paid very little. Moreover, without the current labor laws, we could still be seeing children within most of the current factories instead of going to school.