The Success of the Trade Union Movement in the Post-Civil War Era

A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers. The trade union through its leadership is supposed to bargain with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiate labor contracts with employers. The Civil War altered the situation drastically. During and especially after the conflict, the industrialization of the country accelerated. The period was marked by the development of large enterprises employing thousands of workers, most of whom no longer expected to escape their working class status. As a result, unionization advanced rapidly. More than 30 national craft unions were established during the 1860s and early 1870s. A momentous event was the formation in 1866 of the National Labor Union, the first nationally recognized union in North America. Labor Unions’ chief goal during the post Civil-War Era was to extend and preserve the working rights of Americans everywhere. The trade union movement in the post Civil War Era was partially successful but unfortunately did not fully achieve their goals toward organizing workers and economic goals. They were unsuccessful because of feuds with various trade unions and violent and non-violent protests. They were successful by establishing a somewhat uniform cause and increasing employee-employer relationships.



The trade union movement had to begin with a single labor union, which would hence influence other unions into existence. The National Labor Union was to be the model for all other trade unions to come. The National Labor Union succeeded in creating a strong and loyal following, but had yet become fully revolutionary. The National Labor Unions just like many others excluded Asian-American, African-American, and women applicants. The “mother-labor union” may have been revolutionary in changing the minds of American capitalists but were nowhere close to changing their ideals and morals. The applicants that were deprived of acknowledgment broke off and created their own Labor Unions. Such as The Colored National Labor Union that tried to gain an ally in many other local Labor Unions, but were again rejected due to fractional racism and political ideals. The American workers would soon have to join together or face destruction by their adversaries.



In the public eye, Labor Unions were anything but a blessing in disguise. The course of action Labor Unions took, were violent and non-violent protest. Industrialism had corrupted the American idea of a noble citizen of the Republic. Immigrants and Americans alike involved in labor unions, lacked the leadership to function sufficiently. Instead of having a national leader, Trade Unions were broken up into local leaders for every city and state. The Haymarket Square Riot is a perfect example of how without leadership, even the greatest of opponents shall fail. Such Labor Unions as the Molly Maguires made a living on seeking out and punishing the ones that had caused their problem in the first place. The violent protests not only forced the capitalists to turn their cheek even more, but put harsher restrictions on the formation of Labor Unions.



The neglect of all Labor Unions to develop a uniform cause, all the more clouded their chance for success. The Knights of Labor allowed every kind of worker involved in the cause no matter race or ethnicity. But others, such as the American Federation of Labor did not wish to be involved in politics, no matter the cause. The lack of a common goal was no way to rectify a problem. Most Labor Unions during the late 1800s made progress in their own course of action, but were no closer to the true solution, fair and just working rights for all American citizens. Immigration was another major factor in the difference of opinion between labor unions. With many jobs being squandered by the Industrial Revolution, American immigrants quickly picked up the slack, claiming jobs in any location or condition. Many Labor Unions were concentrated on removing such immigrants while others catered to them. It would not be until the early 1900s, that Labor Unions quickly discovered their faults and started merging as “one big union”.



Trade Unions after the Civil War, did accomplish “biting the capitalist bullet”. Although in the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America it states that every American has the right to assembly, monopolists and capitalists alike attempted to limit that right to the fullest extent. Whether corporations attempted to hire “scabs”, “lockout” and “blacklist” their employees, or even destroy the economic well-being of an employee, the Labor Unions found a way around it. In the long run Trade Union membership only doubled witnessing the attempted floundering by the capitalists. By the turn of the century, the public soon recognized the right of workers to organize and strike at will. The immediate Post Civil-War Labor Unions had weathered the storm and were destined to enhance working environments for all people.



The Trade Union movements after the Civil War were somewhat successful in achieving their goals. The Industrial Revolution had forever impacted the history of America. The days of small scale agricultural farming were over, and the reigns of big business were there to take its place. American capitalists attempted to manipulate immigrant and American workers, creating harsh working environments, cruel work hours, and no health benefits. Trade Unions were successful in functioning without alerting factory bosses across America and eventually improving the conditions for workers. What the Trade Unions struggled to do was come together and establish a common enemy. The Labor Unions of yore have in effect influenced politics, social systems, and mankind.