The document is a congressional record. It shows the recorded early history of American industrialization and the beginning of trade unions. It gives an overview of how American industrialization began by mentioning the various factors that contributed to its industrialization. This is capitalized by economic transformation, construction of settlements and immigration that increased population and therefore creating more demand for goods and services (AFL 1887). The document goes on to document on the maturation of the national market necessitating improvement of infrastructure and the growing economy increased job opportunities.
The document entails unethical issues conducted by some prominent business leaders of that time. This also includes evil practices that were prevalent among the business tycoons. The document addresses the initial formation of the trade union that sought to fight for the workers welfare (AFL 1887). It explains the major concerns of the union and its general outlook based on social issues such as gender, education and the way of raising grievances.
The document is written for any particular audience but special stress can be given to individuals who are interested in the American history of the raise and formation the factors that lead to economic transformation of the United States. The document records the pioneers of trade unions in the 19th century, their main objectives and the various cultural and social consideration practices that were put in place for qualification to join the unions (AFL 1887).
The document on the other hand can target scholars and students who want to know more about the social and cultural discriminations practiced by the pioneer trade unions. As the document records, the unskilled laborers were not allowed to join the union as so were women. From a gender perspective, we can see the male domination and women discrimination attributed to culture (AFL 1887).
The economic growth and development of United States was an overnight process. Its economic transformation began in the 19th century after the civil war turning the State into an industrial nation. The major boost to such development was the increased demand of goods and services due to the increased population (AFL 1887). This was due to immigration and the high demand created more jobs in the market therefore attracting more immigrants. The high demand on the basic human needs, that is, food, shelter and clothing, due to the expansive population fueled the industrial growth, which in turn fostered the expansion of cities. By the end of the century, the United State was a nation of cities and factories (AFL 1887).
The economic expansion enabled the emergency of business tycoons and leaders who engaged in unethical and illegal practices to gain advantage in the market to bolster their businesses and increase their wealth. There activities were comparable to robbery as they eliminated their competitors in order to obtain market monopoly (AFL 1887). Other evil practices included gouging consumers and rough riding their employers. This can be seen as inhuman treatment that was meant to obtain the autonomy in running the business and accumulate wealth. It was the practice of oppressive capitalism.
On their defense, the business tycoons pointed out at their social and economic contributions as the justifying factors for their unapproved deeds. They pointed out things such as creation of new jobs, production and delivery of goods and services for the public, rising living standard of the country and the philanthropic contributions they were making to improve the welfare of the community as whole(AFL 1887). However, the discrimination and unjust treatment to their employees prompted the concern of workers welfare, which led to the development of labor movements.
A capitalist society prompted the labor organizations due to workers unjust treatment. As the workers were continuously subjected to harsh environments, their joined to form a union that will air their grievances and today they are the famous trade unions worldwide. The first union with a national outlook was the Knight of Labor founded in 1869. The organizational main objective was to gain an eight-hour working day, use of paper money and hoped to achieve this through negotiation. Unlike the unions that came later, the Knight of Labor included both skilled and unskilled workers (AFL 1887).
The unions could not see the next century as fissures within it led to its collapse. American Federation of Labor (AFL) replaced it, which was a federation of many parties each organized by special crafts. Another difference was the AFL’s biasness in the inclusion of unskilled and female workers in the federation. It also changed its objectives from those of the Knight’s, instead, it advocated for higher wages, shorter working hours and better working conditions. The AFL most effective weapon of passing their grievances was through strikes unlike the Knight’s negotiation method (AFL 1887). The American Federation of Labor grew to have nationwide outlook having over 500,000 members at the beginning of the new century.
The surprising part of the document is the fact that despite their being oppressive capitalism where employees were exploited and worked in poor conditions, the America Federation of Labor did not try to challenge its, capitalism, basic premises. It only aimed at gaining a larger slice of the economy (AFL 1887). The fact that the movement leaders also sought political positions is a sign of greed and dissatisfaction in the union leadership roles. Surprisingly enough, majority of the citizens were willing to vote them in. this shows that to some extent, the workers had their trust in their leadership and believed if they would obtain the highest political position. Maybe their grievances would be addressed appropriately and timely (AFL 1887).
The document has a cultural perspective that shows male and social stratification dominance. Culture precisely is defined as the totality of social transmitted behavior patterns, beliefs, institutions, art and all other product of human work and thought. Culture can also be said to be these patterns, traits and products considered as the expression of a particular period, community, population or class (AFL 1887).
The life in the document’s period is patriarchal, the society is male dominated and women are not valued or are not involved in any way to the national development. When the AFL was founded, it excluded women in its affairs. This shows a male dominated world where women lack a chance to air their grievances. There is no woman in the leadership of the organizations and in the list of prominent businesspersons (AFL 1887).
Social stratification is dominating in this culture as witnessed through the following ways; first, the AFL excluded unskilled workers. This is a group of workers dominated by the poor in the society; those who cannot afford to access formal education to learn the required skills. Their exclusion makes their situation worse as they are not catered for in the union’s objectives (AFL 1887).
References
American Federation of Labor (1887). Official report of proceedings of the Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor. S.l.: The Federation.
