Essay Archive - Labor Unions
Labor Unions
In colonial America, most of the manufacturing was done by hand in a home. Labor
took place in workshops attached to the side of a home. As towns grew into
cities, the demand for manufactured goods increased. Some workshop owners began
hiring helpers to increase production. Relations between the employer and helper
were generally harmonious. They worked side by side, had the same interests and
held similar political views.
The factory system that began around the mid 1800's brought great changes. The
employers no longer worked beside their employees. They became executives and
merchants who rarely saw their work....
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