The United States Labor And Work Before The End Of Reconstruction

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date of Submission U.S. Labor and Work Before the End of Reconstruction During the industrial revolution in the United States, the traditional ways of doing work were interrupted and indeed, replaced by the more defined, structured, factory-based work designs. Following the Republicanism ideology, the apprentices who had the desire to one day become masters in their own rights found themselves taking up menial and repetitive tasks. The artisans faced with challenges such as lack of enough jobs and resources were forced to become wage workers. Further, many women, especially the younger ones who had previously toiled weaving clothes in the farms of their families joined the emerging textile mill workers (Pinchbeck 56). However, the working-class Americans resisted and revised these changes. The working class Americans resisted these changes by adopting the republican ideology, resisting the republican ideology, adapting to division of labor, creating movements and through protests, as well as trade unions. One way that working class Americans resisted the changes is by adopting the idea of republican ideology. The republican ideology thrived on the belief that people were politically “independent” and did not have to follow the will of others (chapter 7, 326). They believed that this independence would ensure that they were economically stable. In this way, workers were hoping to be owners of properties and this would make them influential, as well as free from those in power. Workers did not want to be dependent on others for their survival and so owning property was the sure way to be successful. In this way, many people started buying land and engaging in agriculture. These farms allowed them to grow their own crops and in a way, they felt that they were independent. In this way, rather than work for others, working class American aspired to be their own bosses (chapter 7, 326). Another significant way that the working-class tried to improve their working conditions is through resistance of the republican ideology. The early development of the industrial revolution comprised of various types of labor, as well as economic organizations and also people from various social and national backgrounds (chapter 7, 342). With the changing organization of work, workers began to challenge the ideology of the republic. The republic stated that the republic would be better represented if people could be politically independent as opposed to being coerced by others (Goloboy 204). This ideology did not conform to the industrial revolution conditions of work because people had to seek work from the owners of the factories and so independence was not possible. Instead, these workers felt the need to come together and fight for equality. In this way, workers banded together to resist the changes in the work process. One group of workers that tried to resist the changes in their working conditions is the artisans and outworkers. Working class Americans also resisted these changes by adapting to division of labor. The artisans were skilled craftsmen and sometimes women. The traditional artisans often involved the masters, their journeymen, and the apprentice helpers who worked closely in their small shops...