Introduction to American Labor History: The Haymarket Affair and the Making of the Modern American Labor Movement
Introduction
Understanding the concept of economic development requires a dynamic mindset capable of factoring in several key considerations. Factors such as total productivity, living standards and stable policy regimes all come into mind when one mentions a positive outlook on economic development. The abovementioned respect emphasizes that economic development, taken optimistically, conjures encouraging images that benefits the well-being of everyone within a nation. Yet, when it comes to fully understanding how economic development affects everyone, it is difficult to realize the seemingly utopian of the foregoing, given that each person involved is bound to win or lose – the balance of which helps determine whether he is at an advantaged or disadvantaged position. This reflective analysis seeks to discuss economic development as a concept seen from the lenses of those who make up labor forces, taking the seminal 19th-century case of the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, Illinois as the focal point. How does one see economic development when one focuses on the labor perspective? Is it possible to view Chicago in an entirely different historical light when one focuses on the labor forces that thrive therein, than just looking at the macrocosmic figures characterizing its economic development? Can the focus on the labor perspective inspire one to view issues on economic development in a different way?
Understanding how the labor perspective works, particularly in terms of standards and relations, could help shape constructive comments and criticisms on the concept of economic development, given that labor forces are integral to making total productivity possible. At the same time, knowing whether or not laborers receive what is due to them for the work they rendered helps provide implications on living standards, which is crucial to understanding economic development. Policy regimes that help shape the conditions of labor forces also enable one to understand the role of government in economic development based on how they treat laborers. The turbulent times characterizing the city of Chicago during the Haymarket Affair stands out as the ideal historical backdrop for this reflective analysis. As the Haymarket Affair took place amidst the dramatic rise of industrialization in the United States (US), contemporary concepts on labor standards and relations were relatively new or even alien concepts to governments that time. Therefore, both the laborers and government authorities during the Haymarket Affair were in a painful yet constructive learning process that produced highly influential results that helped characterize contemporary understandings on labor standards and relations.
An ideal scenario of economic development spurs a refreshing image characterized by strong levels of productivity across different sectors contributing to the economy, favorable conditions affecting living standards and a just and comprehensive system of policies protective of the welfare of laborers without compromising the concerns of employers. The notion that economic development should benefit everyone in a given nation should hold true across boundaries defining social classes. Yet, what if the laborers – both the foundation and at the bottom of economic production, are severely disadvantaged by poor living standards and hostile policies? The conditions imparted unto laborers sends strong implications to economic development; any harm imparted unto their welfare by living standards or policies makes them view economic development in their nation in a negative light, sometimes to the point where some of them would dispute that there is ever economic development taking place at all.
Focusing on the labor perspective in confronting the question of economic development enables one to find answers to this central question: does economic development, as defined by numerical figures, benefit everyone? Ideally, economic development in ideal terms is holistic, in that it benefits all social classes. It is in the foregoing sense where one could reasonably undermine the experience of Chicago on economic development, before and during the Haymarket Affair. Given that industrialization is a relatively new phenomenon in the US that time, the exercise of labor rights was deemed a legally contemptuous act at best, particularly with regard to calling on employers to raise wages. Compared to the recognized rights of laborers to demand better conditions under contemporary labor standards and relations, the Haymarket Affair has featured a relatively crude understanding on labor rights. Such has therefore resulted to disastrous consequences such as riots and unjust judicial convictions, henceforth making economic development seem like an illusion to laborers in Chicago at the time of the Haymarket Affair. In contrast, however, the recognition of labor rights within successful nations and its positive implications on living standards and policies places has made the concept of economic development more apparent and complete. Verily, placing oneself in the position of laborers could help determine whether or not economic development favors all.
Looking at the Economic Development of Chicago through the Haymarket Affair
The Haymarket Affair remains, to this day, a landmark event in the history of labor standards and relations. A shocking revelation involving the Haymarket Affair to those thoroughly exposed to contemporary labor standards and relations is the fact that exercising labor rights was once tantamount to breaches of the law, particularly in terms of asking for wage hikes. So much priority was vested on employers as they contribute to the growing trend of industrialization in the US, yet little do the government back then know that disregarding the welfare of laborers by denying their labor rights is an undemocratic act with disastrous consequences to economic development. Although it is clear that industrialization, particularly in Chicago before and during the Haymarket Affair, is a closely guarded affair in the US, the resultant exploitation of laborers as they dwell in poor living standards and harsh policies has made the positive image of economic development exclusive to the higher social classes.
Industrialization in Chicago boomed greatly after the Depression period between 1873 and 1879. Characterizing the upsurge of industrial activities in Chicago that time is the heightened working days of laborers, who are then required to work for six days a week over an accumulated 60-working hour period. Unrest inevitably arose from laborers clamoring for better working conditions – a phenomenon that soon became a reason for anarchists and socialists within the labor force of Chicago to congregate in pursuance of their common interests. Such has led to a predictable stoppage in economic growth in Chicago, particularly between 1882 and 1886. Political instability soon emerged due to tussles between the laborers and government authorities, which led to several deaths known as the Haymarket Massacre and unjust trials that led to the execution of many laborers. At present, the Haymarket Affair stands as a valuable lesson for advocates of labor rights, as they seek to prevent a repeat of its tragic effects that strongly interfered with economic development in Chicago.
Constructing Issues on Economic Development through the Labor Perspective
At present, labor rights stand as an integral factor of human rights normatively observed worldwide, the denial of which is strongly condemned due to its touted harmful effects to economic development. Therefore, it is crucial to approach several issues on economic development such as poverty, lack of trade and investment activities and harmful policy regimes using the labor perspective in order to emphasize the importance of the well-being of laborers. Creating an ideal scenario for economic development requires that laborers be well-off as well, based on their living standards and the policies covering labor standards and relations. As perhaps the main agents of productivity in economic development, laborers must thrive under favorable living and policy conditions in order for them to prevent from disrupting progress through complaints over their concerns that are not being met.
Conclusion
Viewing economic development through the labor perspective enables one to understand that true economic development does not take place if the productivity of laborers are threatened by poor living standards and unfavorable labor policies. Looking at Chicago beyond the impressive numerical figures characterizing its dynamic economy reveals that it has gone through painful processes of economic development associated with the Haymarket Affair, which involves an early effort to enable the introduction of improvements in policies on labor standards and relations. The labor perspective, from which the Haymarket Affair was viewed, inspires one to view economic development as a concept that must ideally benefit everyone, regardless of social class and profession. Overall, one could definitely lay claim to the occurrence of positive economic development based on the fair and proper treatment of laborers.
