What are your thoughts on the Homestead Strike in particular and the early organized labor movement in America
354503
During that period and up until Roosevelt, union-company relations were rough and rough tactics were used. The Homestead strike was not an isolated case. There were many.
275100
Hi,\n  I agree with u, and with evillyn... Democracy is all about freedoms and duties, and every1 has a freedom to protest. But I do not believe that a strike makes any sense. I believe its just a form of blackmail, like telling u give me money or all these students can go to hell for all I care.\nProtests should be in some other way. Maybe the policy-framers of the college were giving really low salaries, but why do the students have to suffer for it? Again, workers from all fields strike, but then, it is the consumers who suffer. Surely, there can be a better form of protest than this. When I was younger, I believed in debates and such stuff, but now I realise that such stuff dont even work fully in utopian theories... Still, I believe that there must be some other, better forms of protest. How about they move court? Really lame, I know, but its the best I got at present....
625165
I think so. It was definitely helped along by radicals on both sides but I don't think either the issue of slavery or that of whether or not states had a right to secede (A major point of debate and contention since the ratification of the Constitution), would ever have been resolved otherwise. It's unfortunate but sometimes that's just the way it is. In the end our country was much better off though.
387699
Labor unions really declined in the late 1880s.  The Knights didn't help themselves by failing on some strikes.  When the AFL came along in 1886, they lost many members to them.
674355
From what I recall, I was a lot younger then, the men left their families to find work. Any work. Many carried their own tools such as hoes' so that they could get work as migrant day laborers. People looking for laborers could pick them out of the crowd by the tools they carried. They carried their possessions tied to their tools giving us the traditional picture of a hobo with a stick with a bag tied to the end. They traveled any way they could, often by jumping trains. Of course this could all be wrong. Recollections are funny things.
540432
I spent a week on an Amish farm when I was a kid.  Very different.  They were wonderful people.  They work hard, respect each other (and themselves), and are always willing to help someone in need.  You will never hear of an Amish person raping, robbing, bombing, stealing or whatever on the evening news.  They were, however, out in full force after the hurricanes helping to rebuild homes.  The world could use more people like these.
408645
My friends, it is solidarity of labor we want. We do not want to find fault with each other, but to solidify our forces and say to each other: "We must be together; our masters are joined together and we must do the same thing."\n\nMother Jones
138123
Around that time trade unionism began to take hold in Europe.  It was some decades later that unionism became established in the US.  A big concern with unions has always been worker safety and well being.
1030057
Well, it would seem that at least Hazleton, PA got it right. They are implementing a new law that would revoke a businesses license for employing illegal immigrants. Seems like San Bernadino, the largest county in the country, is following suit and looking to employ the same laws as well.\n\nAs for your original question "Do you think we should do nothing about this illegal immigration problem?". I have to point out a few key points in order to give a logical, reasonable and efficient, non-emotional based answer. (I know you're a female, so bear with me on the non-emotional portion of things. j/k) \n\n“The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty first, the ‘love of soft living’ and the get-rich-quick-theory of life”---Teddy Roosevelt\n\n"Love of soft living" - with the use of illegal immigrants for cheap part time labor, the middle to upper class Americans and the thinking involved is "it's good for me and it employs needy people as well". This creates a dillusion of Master-servant and is self-destructive at the same time. Remember "All power corrupts". \n\nJudging from what is known throughout history, it is only a matter of time before the servants get tired of thier roles. With that we can logically deduct that eventually the servant will try and overthrow the master. Unfortunately, this is the role of the illegal to the middle/upper class American\n\nWatching the March, April and May immigrant marches, it wasn't too hard to see the heavy resentment, the entitlement and loud accusations of fat lazy Americans, you need us to care for you, proof that the master-servant, nearly symbiotic relationship is a daily occurrence and not a healthy one either.\n\nIn answer to your original question: it's a matter of realizing the long term consequences of unbridled migration. Eventually things will come to an uproar as they already are in the streets with protests and such. Give it time, if we do nothing we will eventually be heading towards a "Civil War II". Sounds crazy right now, but when a little thought is put into it, I think most can recognize the possibility.
742524
I think it was wrong that it ever existed in the first place - and yes it needed to end, but...........\n\nIt is interesting to note that when slavery was finally abolished, many newly freed men and women suddenly found themselves without homes, without food and without work.\n\nAs such, no small number actually asked the ex-slave owners if they could continue working for them under the same terms as before. This was especially the case where the slave-owner had been one who was reluctant to use the whip and was a more agreeable "master" than most of the others.
1144318
The problem is major major, let me say again MAJOR, propaganda against a union. I used to work for IBM as an engineer (not even affected by a union btw being salaried) and man even if someone was accused of using the 'U' word, they were somehow mysteriously fired.\n\nIf anyone even mentions a union the propaganda KINGS come out in full force. \n\nI wish there would be a massive union spread throughout this country. It would save the good parts of this declining capitalist society.
967940
Marx's conflict thoery is a fun one.  Or Durkheim's on solidarity.  George Ritzer is a great source to start with.
687587
Sometimes I think it is all the fault of the American patriots, that they stooped to the (then unheard-of) tactics of shooting at the British from behind trees and bushes. They used these underhanded techniques, largely learned from the savages of the American continents, to compensate for their numerical inferiority. \n\nThough I share the beliefs and values of the Founding Fathers and their armies, though I cherish the freedoms we have as Americans, this still bothers me.\n\nThe success of the American colonials inspired the French Revolution, which was so bloody it is now known in history as the Reign of Terror. If only Louis had thought to give them a whiff of grapeshot and then fix bayonnets and charge the rabble away! There would still be a Louis on the throne of France. Instead, it only encouraged that unpleasantness with the Corsican adventurer and all the rest that followed.\n\nFor generations afterward, whenever a coup took place in South America, the mustachio'd 'gentlemen' would say, "We are not revolutionaries! We are freedom fighters! Not conqustadors, patriots! Not oppressors, liberators!" \n\nCommunism picked that theme up and ran with it for decades. Until it fell apart. Even now, there are some that think Communism has not been discredited; only that it has not been tried hard enough, long enough.\n\nCommunism funded many people and movements in Africa. And there was, and is, the tension between Islam and the rest of the world. Strategic materials such as chromium and uranium have provoked many a conflict. Less strategic materials such as gold and diamonds have also done so.\n\nIn the final analysis, I would have to say-- as old as it sounds, it is still profound-- the ends do not justify the means. Some may think that we, as Americans, cannot point the finger (given our own beginnings.) \n\nBut if we want there to be an end to this, someone must start. If we wait to begin until there is a nation that has never done such things, we will be waiting a long time.
1047429
History of the co-operative movement\nRobert Owen (1771–1858) fathered the cooperative movement. A Welshman who made his fortune in the cotton trade, Owen believed in putting his workers in a good environment with access to education for themselves and their children. These ideas were put into effect successfully in the cotton mills of New  \n Lanark, Scotland. It was here that the first co-operative store was opened. Spurred on by the success of this, he had the idea of forming "villages of co-operation" where workers would drag themselves out of poverty by growing their own food, making their own clothes and ultimately becoming self-governing. He tried to form such communities in Orbiston in Scotland and in New Harmony, Indiana in the United States of America, but both communities failed.\n\nFor the rest of this article see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative
1013781
I think farmers in the U.S. are very important to this day.\n\nNot only was this country primarily built on the backs of farmers, but today they still provide for everyone.\n\nWe should all have respect for farmers and the jobs they do for this country.\n\nGoverment help for farmers is helpful I think.
216306
Like most others, I also believe that the walkout was more of a spectacle than a protest. I agree that seeing teenagers get involved is refreshing, but it is naive to think that they were outraged at this new bill. I am as outraged as any other Hispanic/Latino about what the holds for the future or all Hispanics and Latinos. I remember when Pete Wilson, back in 1994/1995 attempted to enact proposition 187. Similar protests from high school and middle school students occurred back then too. I witnessed one attempted walkout when I was in the eighth grade in a middle school in Hollywood. I know for a fact that those students were not propelled to walk out because of outrage from Prop 187, they walked out because the chose not to go to class.  Most students have been misinformed about the details of the bill and others don't care enough to find out what it is. There are better ways to do things and I believe school walk-outs are detrimental to the cause. The only thing it proves to the larger conservative and neo conservative society is that Hispanics and Latinos are bunch of ignorant and emotional juvenile delinquents.
663072
My hometown of Bristol(the Borough, not the Township) Pennsylvania is about to unveil this summer (ground has been broken and monument is already built) a statue of Harriet Tubman in honor of her role in "The Underground Railroad" to free slaves and lead them on their passage North. There are people out there in the U.S who recognize that this great country wouldn't be where it is today if not for the effort from the backs of the slaves back then. I agree it is time to give due credit. God Bless! Below is a link for the statue I mentioned above. It's a bit dated because the progress locally has been phenomonal with many locals (black & white) responding to the call of fundraising for it.