Luddites Vs Chartists Research Paper

The Industrial Workers of the World or called the Wobblies is a great example of protesters. But they did not take the violent route like many others. The IWW did it in a peaceful manner by singing songs to get their point across. IWW goal was to get all of the workers in one big union and to sing. “The labor culture of the IWW was developed through its creation and utilization of songs, poetry, cartoons, jargon, jokes, posters, pamphlets, and newspapers all of which promoted the ideology for the ONE BIG UNION” (Olwig, 2013). The IWW was most known for their materials in the “Little Red songbook” the sold for 10 cents. The protesters would sing the songs in the streets and halls, sometimes even jails when they got arrested. This was a big step for the working class people because this let everyone know that they will not settle for

Luddism, for example, was one of the ideologies that opposed the industrial changes that liberalism brought. The jobs of the skilled textile workers were lost and replaced by machines operated by unskilled laborers. The Luddites protested and even broke into factories, destroying many machinery. Chartism was another example of the response to the unrecognized individual rights. Chartism was a working- class movement with the main focus on political and social reform in society (Fielding, 2009, 132). The Chartists wanted a political and social reform in society because they could be granted the rights to participate in these aspects of society. Utopian Socialists were humanitarians who advocated an end to the appalling conditions of the average worker in the industrial capitalist countries (Fielding, 2009, 134). They believed that education and the improved working conditions could peacefully remove the worst aspects of capitalism and lead to an ideal socialist society where everyone would live happily. “It is therefore the interest of all, that everyone, from birth, should be well educated, physically and mentally, that society may be improved in its character; that everyone should be beneficially employed, physically, and mentally, that the greatest amount of wealth may be created and knowledge attained….” (Fielding, 2009, 135). Another essential resistance to liberalism was showcased by the ideology of classical conservatism. The beliefs of

The Working class that made up around 80% of society had little or no bargaining power with their employers resulting in the continuation of unfair working hours, bad wages, and unsanitary and hazardous working conditions. The workers could not even fight for their rights in the political system as only the rich were eligible to vote.

With no relief in sight from the government or anyone else, people’s anger and resentment grew. The Communist party and other socialist groups saw a swell in their numbers. Labor strikes and protests against the government began to erupt. The most notable of these was the Bonus Army March on Washington. More than

The economic conditions was a major part in gaining support in chartism. Chartist reached out to the working class people who were struggling within society. The poor law and tax increases was making it harder for the working class people to survive, this lead to poverty and people entering the workhouse. Another factor was the poor working conditions and low wages that were causing ill heath. Evidence within the article to support how chartist gained support is “with this nation suffering its liberty and rights to be remorselessly trampled upon by murderous factions, jobbers and commercial blood sucking vampires” This is a sticking statement of how the middle class employers were seen as a higher class of people, who were exploiting the working class. Another point to make it that chartist struggled to gain support in agricultural places and that most of the support came form industrial cities were the population was higher. A reference to this is seen in a

The working conditions in early American factories often cost people their limbs or their life. People were severely underpaid, received no benefits or breaks, and forced to work 18+ hours per day without rest. Marxism brought forth new ideas of business structure, and Josiah Wedgewood cornered the market with ideas of vertical integration. Worker’s rights and labor laws became not just desirable, but necessary. The Knights of Labor attempted to reform the entire business model and economics of marketing structures, while Trade Unions fought for rights and regulations to make the current system workable. After the Haymarket Square Riot the Knights of Labor fizzled out after being blacklisted from industry. Though the trade unions suffered a temporary slump, ultimately the numbers prevailed. Times were tough for most people, but it is the struggles of the revolution that led to the labor laws, sanitation laws, women’s rights, and social structures we have today.

Sometimes the labor activist did not always protest in peace. The labor activists were sometimes violent. The Industrial Workers

Unions in general were affected and became less popular, as this violent strike caused them to look extremely careless towards the value of human

It was mainly during this period when the workers became conscious and aware that they belonged to a different class and started to take action against the industrial conditions and the new capitalist power. Workers from cotton mills and coalmines in England and the weaver from Switzerland called for a strike in 1808 to get relief from starvation of wages and crippling conditions of work. Intolerant conditions for work gave birth to various social and labour movements and for a demand to reform the existing capitalist and create a new society. During this period demand for democratization increased and the workers and people stared demanding for democratization not only in their workplace but also in schools, university, churches and other social institutions. The demand for democratization will bring equal participation and reduce the conflicts between the management and the workers and it would also benefit the workplace and improve workers morale, develop human potential, increase production and bring industrial harmony and peace.

Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto was most appealing to and revolutionary for the industrial workers of 1848 (and those to come after that time). The call for unification of the proletariat and abolishment of the Bourgeoisie was an urgent one during a time of rapid progress in all aspects of industrial life. This urgency of The Communist Manifesto and the desire for change of political ideologies (to match the exponential rate of progress of wealth and industry) created not only a spate of revolutions, but a long lasting change in political ideas for industrialized European nations. The Communist Manifesto created a sense of unity and class awareness throughout the

Factories introduced a sense of community into the workers lives, because before no one worked in the same shops, so until factories started to become more relevant, no one faced the same hardships and experiences. The workers all shared feelings of inequality, therefore gaining the urge to revolt against the system and obtain the rights they felt they deserved. This newly established relationship, made it easier for the community to work as a team and go on strike against their

they peacefully broke laws that they considered to be unjust; they organized silent and peaceful protests such as sit-ins and strikes; and they agitated and worked with legislators and and government officials willing to support their movements and aims as just and proper in the longer

In the late 1800’s and 1900’s as the workforce was growing, so were concerns among the people. Working conditions were dangerous and people had to work for many hours. Wages were low and sometimes children were forced into these hostile environments. People wanted these things to stop. They were finding ways to fight against these conditions and change them for the better. Organizations were popping up to make these changes but they all had varying ideas of what to change and how to do it. Some of these degrees varied from the time and place that the groups were created in. There were several prominent groups in the labor movement. There were the Socialists, the Knights of Labor, and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) to name a few.

The movement’s overall strategy had litigation, the use of mass media, boycotts, demonstrations, and sit-ins or other form of civil disobedience to turn public support against

 Chartism was the name of a variety of protest movements in England during the 1830s and 40s, which aimed to bring about change  in social and economic conditions through political reform. Its name comes from the People’s Charter, a six-point petition presented to the House of Commons with the hope of having it made law. The six point included annual parliaments, universal manhood suffrage, abolition of the property qualification for members of the House of Commons, the secret ballot, equal electoral districts, and salaries for members of Parliament.