Capital and Labor

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Capital and Labor
Why did the United States of America (USA) experience growing labor unrest during industrialization? Were American workers happy when the firms employing them started to grow and expand? Why did the greatest protests hit the railroad industry the most? Did the employees' strike change anything in their favor? Were workers threatened that their skills mattered less during industrialization, and they feared losing their jobs? In some cases, industrialization can bring uncertainties, particularly when firms start to apply new methods of production that undermine employees' contributions. The majority of middle-class workers do not know what they will do if the companies they work for close their operations. During American industrialization, numerous things changed because some firms started to replace human workers with machines. In particular, machines were better than people since they increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the production process. As such, many companies maximized profits, and their owners became very powerful. The fear of American workers losing their livelihoods increased, which resulted in numerous strikes and protests that targeted the railroads. The difficulty of supporting families on unpredictable and meager wages, dangerous working conditions, and long working hours compelled the labor armies or workers to organize and protest against the growing power of capital.
The increasing labor unrest accompanied American industrialization due to numerous changes that took place. For example, many firms changed their production methods to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their production processes. Workers realized that all those changes made their skills less important, and they knew that company owners were looking for ways to replace human labor with machines. In that light, they should not have stayed calm as they were aware of what was happening and the effects those changes would have on their livelihoods. American workers knew that railroads were the best to hit during the protests since the industry had marshaled government support, bureaucratic management, and capital. They understood that fast actions were to be taken by relevant stakeholders if they stopped the operations of railroads since they were the lifeblood of the American economy at the moment. Goods produced in various firms were transported to their consumers through railroads (Sumner). The upcoming industrial order made employees realize their powerlessness, and the time for them to act had arrived. The skills that workers have gained all over the years mattered less in the new industrial order that emphasized mass-producing economy. People's strength diminished and became insignificant as companies grew in power and size, and managers accumulated more wealth and influence. Consequently, workers knew that they were replaceable and that they had to act before it was too late for them to be heard and turn things around in their favor.
The post-Civil War era ushered the industrial revolutions in the USA. National investments and technological innovations decreased the cost of distribution and production. Many firms implemented new administrative frameworks ...