Consumer Boycott According

In the modern day global economy characterized by free trade, the government has limited power when it comes to influencing how consumers view an industry or even discriminate against certain products (Findlay & Warren, 2013). Nonetheless, the purpose of this paper is to explore if it’s ethical for the public, or rather the consumers to view all industries differently. Also, as an advocate for the consumers, I will provide arguments concerning the reasons as to why I do not believe that some industries are unfairly targeted, such as in the case with the fast food industry. The paper will also reconnoiter the ins and outs of why consumers should partake in choosing

In the 1800s and early 1900s working conditions were much harsher than now. Long hours and small wages made up a day in the life of someone living in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The Haymarket Riot was the result of the bombing in Chicago. “In the summer 1886 the campaign for an eight-hour day, long a rallying cry that united American laborers, culminated in a national strike on May 1, 1886. Between 300,000 and 500,000 workers struck across the country. In Chicago, police forces killed several workers while breaking up protestors at the McCormick reaper works. Labor leaders and radicals called for a protest at Haymarket Square the following day, which police also proceeded to break up. But as they did, a bomb exploded and killed seven policemen. Police fired into the crowd, killing four. The deaths of the Chicago policemen sparked outrage across the nation and the sensationalization of the “Haymarket Riot” helped many Americans to associate unionism with radicalism” (Yawp). As a result of the Haymarket Riot was the loss of members of the Knight of Labor. “The national movement for an eight-hour day collapsed”(Yawp). The Haymarket Riot played an important role in illustrating how labor was in the late 1800s to the

Between the years 1870-1900, Americans began to respond to the effects fostered by these corporations. From urban factory workers to rural farmers, Americans began to organize against these big businesses. With mass industrialization, more job’s were made available to women, these jobs were often in factories with terrible conditions, sweatshops. There was a sameness about working in mass production factories. Thus, working in these modern mass production factories created a homogenous environment that diminished individualism and the need for skilled workers. (Doc. C) Strikers were common during this era, workers participated in strikes and joined labor unions, such as The American Federation of Labor and the Knights of Labor, due to the terrible working conditions. The American Federation of Labor, headed by Samuel Gompers, was specifically for skilled workers and argued for better wages and a reduction in working hours. (Doc. G) Although urban workers were greatly impacted by the growth of these corporations, they were not the ones. Farmers, suffered

These views fit with Richard Henry Lee who promoted the boycott and Homespun movements, along with the use of forcible resistance. (Doc

WIth the power going to their head, their attitude reflected their beliefs that employers were on a higher level that their workers in every way. So they had a strong distaste towards their employees banning together against them because they were challenging their superiority.Many employers gave them an ultimatum, either you sign a contract similar to the Western Union Telegraph Company’s, promising you wouldn’t have any affiliation with the unions, or you lost your job (Document E). In 1883, in a testimony before the Senate Committee on Labor and Capital, a machinist said that "100 men are able to do now what it took 300 or 400 men to do fifteen years ago" in trying to explain his insignificance to the company he worked for (Document D). Due to the fact that they indeed did not necessarily need as many men as they did in the past, employers had no problem firing them if their protests went too

One strike that helped to further this feeling was the Pullman strike. When the workers shut down the railroad it shut down the western half if the country and stopped the economy. This brought dislike from government, businesses, and the people. Document A shows one side of the story, with an editorial from the New York Times. Within this article it said that the riots were nothing but “rash and spiteful demonstrations.” This editorial also showed the other side of the argument calling the workers bold and determined for standing up and trying to make their lives better. Many people did not agree with the stikes and the violent scenes that often took place after. Most disagreed with the sentiments of Samuel Gompers and the leaders of other unions. In Document H, Samuel Gompers talks of how the factories are constantly changing and making improvements and if the employees do not strike how they will be left behind and walked upon. He talks of how the United States was not created without suffering and struggling and so the workers must fight for what they wanted. Finally, as shown in Document E, the people did not take kindly, to the labor unions and what they were trying to do. They saw that they all had different goals and were all trying to get

What we learn from this excerpt about the protestors is that they were everyday blue collar workers that were provoked by the occupation of the British army in their colony and the crippling tax policies imposed on them. Most protestors were hardworking young men who demonstrated their aggression because of the crushing pressure of the British presence at the shipyard and ports. Another thing we learn is that the colonist on the following Friday before March 5 took their anger out and started a confrontation with British soldiers. The main reason for protest was the Stamp Act, which was a tax imposed on all paper documents and the Townshend Act, which imposed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The protestors just wanted their

During this era of American History, workers were not being paid enough to live even a remotely normal lifestyle. In 1866, the Knights of Labor attempted to put an end to this. A group of mostly African Americans met in Louisiana and decided they were going to riot in hopes of a dollar-a-day wage. Ten thousand sugar workers went on strike hoping change, but ended up being shot at by local militia. The militia was assigned to put an end to the riots and ended up killing more than 30 people and wounded a hundred more. The situation was described in a Louisiana Newspaper as, “Citizens of the United States killed by a mob directed by a State judge... Laboring men seeking an advance in wages, treated as if they were dogs!” Stunned by what had happened, the surviving rioter fled to the forest in search of a safe environment. This event shows that the sugar business did not care about their workers and if they forced their employees to live in poverty. However, in the scheme of things, this event should have never happened. If

The West Virginia brakemen started the upheaval by uncoupling cars, blocking railroads, suspending the intercourse of travel and business on some of the great trunk lines of the country and announcing that no freight trains would be allowed to travel until their wages were reinstated to the normal rate.5 The workmen in Pittsburgh and Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco also joined them. Moreover, both working class and middle class people from the Martinsburg community who bore no wage relation to the railroad company also showed support by gathering at the town depot to prevent the arrest of strikers by police.7 Violence came with the strike as the workers destroyed more than $2 million worth of railroad property and the militia also fired on the crowds, killing more than 20 people. Furthermore, because the strike was already defined as “insurrection”, and that the “bloody conflict” was too much for the militia, they asked for help and involved federal troops and the army – ensuing further

When consumers decide to purchase a product or service a car, a new refrigerator, or prescription drugs, the goal of the antitrust laws is to make sure their choices are not restricted unreasonably. Consumer choice is a powerful incentive for the sellers of any products to keep their prices low and their quality high. When the antitrust laws are vigorously enforced, businesses must respond to what consumers want. A business that ignores consumer wishes, by refusing either to keep prices competitive or to offer

These benefits were greatly needed as seen in the working conditions experienced by the Italian immigrants of this time. These groups were organized locally which also led to their downfall because of too much local power rather than a form of national leadership. The American Federation of Labor, founded in 1185, was unique in that it restricted its membership to only skilled workers and was also organized by trade instead of locality. For this reason it “became known as the “aristocracy” of labor” (Additional Links: The War between Capital and Labor). The Italian immigrants, for example, were not commonly found in the American Federation of Labor because they were unskilled and were not unionizing. President of the American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers believed in the power of the strike and most importantly the belief of the eight-hour workday. In Chicago, over one thousand people gathered at the West Randolph Street Haymarket, where people bought hay for their horses. Originally it was a peaceful gathering until someone threw a bomb into the crowd. The police responded by shooting into the crowd. An unknown number of demonstrators were killed or wounded. “Sixty police officers were injured and eight eventually died. Politicians and the press blamed radicals for the violence, although there was no evidence linking specific people to the bomb” (Lecture

Henry Ward Beecher, a member of the middle class, regarded the labor union strikes as irrational acts. He described them as “transient bubbles, which burst as soon as they were formed. They sprang from ignorance and passion.” He degraded strikers to nothing more than desperate souls that could not provide for themselves or their families. Beecher, along with most the middle class, spoke in an apathetic tone

When strikes would occur, the government took an anti-labor stance in response to the public outcry against the labor-based extremism and violence. The Pullman strike of 1894 was a strike where blood was shed forcing a government reaction. Eugene Debs, the leader of the American Railway Union, led 40,000 Pullman workers in a strike that caused rail traffic to cease in the west. This affected the flow of mail, which is a federal offense. When federal government used special deputies to deliver the mail, violence of previously unseen proportions broke loose. The New York World in 1894 reported that the strike was like a "war against the government and society." The strike only caused controversy and did not help any employee.

Our global solution is to encourage people to boycott specific companies who don't pay their workers enough to feed their families via social media. Anyone who has a social media account can be involved, since they can spread the message via hashtags and posts. One goal is to raise awareness to low wages that don't allow people to support themselves. ADD SENTENCE HERE Another hope of ours is that through the boycott, the paychecks of the workers would increase to an amount that they can support themselves with without worry. If people can't afford to feed themselves or their family, they won't be able to perform as well in their job since they won't have as much energy. A poor performance may result in harsh consequences for the worker. One

Consumerism is the center of American culture. Americans tend to confuse their wants with their needs. With new advances in technology, as well as the help of advertisers, people are provided with easy access to new products that seem essential to their everyday life, even though they have survived this long without them. People cannot live without food, clothing, and shelter. But realistically, according to people's different lifestyles, more than food, clothing, and shelter are needed. Most people need to work to survive. Unless a job is either in their own home, or within walking distance, a means of transportation is needed. Whether it be a vehicle, money for a taxi-cab, or a token for a ride on the subway, money must be spent