Industrial Growth

Name:

Institution:

Lecturer:

Course:

Date:

Industrial Growth

Haymarket Square refers to a riot that took place in Chicago on May 1885 at the Haymarket Square during the industrial growth in America. This instance hindered the labor movement greatly in diverse ways. First, the riot offered support to workers in the execution of strikes in various industries (Burgan, 2006). The strike began in the aim of acquiring shorter working periods for employees as measured by the daily schedules. This hindered the labor movement because it created tension between law enforcers and the public (unions). For instance, the police were used to offering protection to the populace but during the scuffle, they had to take a position against the rioters. In the demonstration, one demonstrator was killed while others were injured. The rioters were furious and as a consequent threw a bomb to the police officers causing severe injuries and the death of several police officers.

Additionally, the of Haymarket Square riot hindered the labor movement as many individuals refrained from joining such groups following the fact that many workers were beaten during the interrogation period. Note that, prior to the given occurrence many organizations had formed unions, a notable one being the Knights of Labor since it was the first employee union to be created. The union was full of socialists and anarchists, some of them strongly committed to cruel distractions of capitalist system (Amin, Fortna, & Frierson, 2006). The Haymarket Square demonstration therefore imparted fear of unionism in a rampart manner because members of Knights of Labor felt that their movement could not succeed because of the sentences accorded to individuals found in any demonstrations.

The Haymarket Square riot was a signal incident during the American labor history, which was responsible for delaying acceptance of the labor movement. It was largely responsible for delaying the eight-hour working schedule and within a short period, many workers abandoned Knights of Labor and moved to the American Federation of Labor union. The police at Haymarket Square were regarded as the martyrs while the workers were regarded as cruel anarchists and thus creating a level of hostility against any labor movement (Burgan, 2006). The mismanagement of the union and support of the unsuccessful strikes weakened the labor movement. Various unsuccessful strikes and violence cases were noted and acted as major constraints towards the downfall of the labor movement. In addition, the nature of violence in relation to labor was inevitable. The unions as well as their members were seen as threat and a hindrance to the labor movement.

Another extent to which labor demonstrations hindered the labor movement is noted through the subsequent but unsuccessful strikes. Protests became common following the demonstrations held at Haymarket Square. The rioting incidence was regarded as controversial since many workers opposed working as a whole. Several leaders who led the demonstrations were jailed whereby one hanged himself and therefore creating a bad image for any form of labor organizations. This incidence held back the labor movement because due to the fear aspect and practically halted the labor movement process within the period.

The violence that was part of the early labor movement surprised me majorly due to the bombing incident that was highly unexpected as well as the subsequent executions, arrests and trials that the workers had to be subjected. The police tried to break up the labor rally but instead they were injured and some of them died due to bombing and therefore, instead of a harmonious compromise, the police retaliated by killing several people (Amin, Fortna, & Frierson, 2006). The laborers were determined in fighting for their rights, which included working eight hours in a day and increase of wage in the industries. Thus, many of the workers could not stop protesting despite of police interference. Additionally, is surprising that one of the workers committed suicide before the eve of his execution owing to the strike. Presently, due to human rights, this form of stringent punishments could not be permitted and strikes would not be considered as bad activities but rather a form of communication for the institution of civil rights.

References

Amin, C. M., Fortna, B. C., & Frierson, E. B. (2006). The modern Middle East: A sourcebook for

history. Oxford, UK: OxfordUniversity Press.

Burgan, M. (2006). The Haymarket Square tragedy. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books.