The History of the United States: From 1890s to 1940s

The period of 1890s-1940s in America represents an influential time that has many fundamental moments that have shaped what society is today in the United states. This time has lots of issues dealing with gender, race, finance, immigration, international affairs, and politics. One can interpret this as a very hectic period.

Throughout this time, there also happen to be numerous events dealing with the United States government and its stance on labor. There are five definitive examples that properly represent this. Starting with the tragic occurrence at Homestead, Pennsylvania, the Election of 1914, the struggle for Suffrage, the flourishing industry of auto-mobiles, and the many new reforms set in by what is called the New Deal. Although, there are other groundbreaking moments in this time, these five are rather more directly related to the United States government’s stance on labor.

All throughout the 1980s there was an uproar of labor strikes, but there is one in particular that stands out from the others. This is the labor strike in 1892 in Homestead, Pennsylvania. This strike was led by low paid, steelworkers. In result to the strike, Pennsylvania’s governor ordered thousands of National Guard troops to contain the strike. As seen in this instance, not only does it reveal what is going on during this time with labor, but it also shows the stance of the government too. Across america, the reason for labor strikes was clear, low wages and bad conditions. The instance in Homestead, PA was intervened by a government official to basically, stop workers from trying to get change. The stance of the government here is against laborers.

Following into the 1910s, the United States is experiencing many things. This includes the election of 1914. Without this election, President Woodrow Wilson would not have been looking to win laborers over for their vote. The president at this time represents the government’s stance toward labor. President Wilson had done many things such as appointing Louis Brandeis in the Supreme Court, supported rural credits, and supported the Keating-Owen child labor law, which later became in 1916. These actions seemingly put the government on terms with laborers at this time.

Not only did the 1910s have the election of 1914 and the start of World War I in 1914, but it also opened more opportunities for women. During this time more women were working and becoming more independent. Women wanted equality. This led to women fighting for the right to vote. By 1920, the 19th amendment is ratified. The 19th amendment being ratified shows that the government was on board with women having political power. If women have political power, they then have the power to change the governments labor positions, specifically women labor conditions. This event shows that the government at this time was in support of labor movement.

Continuing into the 1920s, the United States went through many big changes. From the flourishing mass production of auto-mobiles and the invention of an assembly-line in 1922, to the ratification of the 18th amendment in 1920, to the election of the President Herbert Hoover in 1928. One of the changes being, an economic crisis that ultimately led to affect labor in the United States. This is the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 affected tons, including workers losing their jobs. Thousands out of jobs, caught the attention of President Herbert Hoover. President Hoover decided that there was no need for government intervention among individuals. The lack of government intervention during a time of hardship concludes that the government’s stance towards labor was neglectful.

Soon in the 1930s a new President is elected, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. President Roosevelt introduced a series of federal programs to help fight the depression, this is called The New Deal. The New Deal consisted of programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 as work relief, the Agriculural Adjustment Act in 1933 which benefited farmers, the Works Pogress Administration in 1934 to aid the unemployed, the Wagner Act in 1935 helped unions, and many more including Social Security. Out of all of the programs that came from the New Deal, the Wagner Act is special “...for the first time providing federal support for labor organization -- the most important New Deal reform of the industrial order.” The New Deal shows that the United States government is on the side of labor at this time.

To conclude, in the time period from the 1890s-1940s the government had a very inconsistent stance on labor throughout the United States. In the end workers in america benefited due to the many acts passed in their favor and those who did not benefit were the employers, since they had to bargain with unions in the end, it cost them more money out of pocket.