RISE OF THE PROLETARIAT

• 1. Industrialists owned the means of production under industrial capitalism. What are the means of production, and how did controlling them make industrialists powerful?


  • means of production is the tools and materials to make goods
  • this control gave them power over production processes, allowing them to set prices, wages, and determine what goods were made. this enabled them to maximize profits, expand their businesses, and dominate industries, making them powerful figures in industrial capitalism
• 1. Why did industrialists begin to hire women, and what were their experiences?

  • they needed more people to hire 
  • women were not paid as much as men were & they were expected to do domestic household chores even if they have a job
• 1. What were conditions like for workers overall?

  • overworked, environment was poor working conditions, deaths, injuries, low wage
• 1. What is the proletariat?


  • the working class 
  • in marx’s words, it is used to describe the entire class of wage workers who can only earn money by selling their labor
• 1. How did workers begin to organize into alliances like unions, and what were their principal tactics?


  • Workers who used to spend the day outside in agricultural settings were now crammed inside crowded mills, factories and mines. This made it easier for people to talk to each other, share their experiences, and organize themselves into alliances
  • Principal Tactics were  

  1. Collective Bargaining
  2. strikes
  3. labor protests and demonstrations
  4. boycotts
  5. legal actions
• Collective Bargaining

  Workers formed unions to negotiate with employers for better wages, working hours, and conditions. Through collective bargaining, unions represented the collective interests of workers and sought to improve their economic and social standing
• Strikes


  Strikes were a common tactic used by unions to exert pressure on employers and demand concessions. Workers would refuse to work until their demands were met, disrupting production and drawing attention to their grievances
• Labor Protests and Demonstrations


  Workers organized protests, rallies, and demonstrations to raise awareness of labor issues, advocate for their rights, and pressure employers and government officials to address their concerns
• Boycotts


  Unions sometimes called for boycotts of products or companies that mistreated workers or refused to negotiate with unions. By withholding consumer support, workers aimed to exert economic pressure on employers and compel them to change their practices
• Legal Action


  Unions engaged in legal battles to challenge unfair labor practices, advocate for labor laws protecting workers' rights, and defend unionization efforts. Legal action included filing lawsuits, lobbying lawmakers, and participating in court proceedings
• Reasons for less union organizing in the colonies

  • Colonial economies based on extractive industries like mining, agriculture, and plantation labor, which relied heavily on coerced or indentured labor rather than wage labor
  • Colonial societies characterized by rigid social hierarchies, with limited opportunities for upward mobility among laborers
  • Colonial governments and employers actively suppressed labor organizing efforts, viewing unions as threats to colonial stability and economic interests
  • Ethnic and racial divisions among workers, exacerbated by colonial policies of divide and rule, hindered solidarity and collective action among laborers
• Proletariat


  A new social class composed of wage laborers who worked in factories, mines, and other industrial settings as industrialization expanded
• Proletariat


  • Experienced harsh working conditions
  • Experienced exploitation
  • Experienced poverty
• Proletariat experiencing harsh conditions, exploitation, and poverty

  Led to widespread discontent and calls for reform
• Proletarian movements


  • Labor unions
  • Socialist parties
  • Revolutionary groups
• Proletarian movements


  • Advocated for workers' rights
  • Advocated for social justice
  • Advocated for economic equality
• Struggles of the proletariat

  Fueled social and political movements for labor rights, suffrage, and social welfare reforms
• Calls for change


  Led to legislative reforms, such as labor laws, regulations on working hours and conditions, and the establishment of social welfare programs
• Legislative reforms


  Aimed at improving the lives of industrial workers and addressing social inequalities
• • labor was the only way to make money for workers, so it didnt matter how many unfair hours industrialists imposed bc the workers would have to do it
• • Unions represented workers with common interests, such as better work conditions, shorter hours, and better pay
• • In the nineteenth century, individual workers approaching bosses with these demands faced dismissal or ridicule
• • Unions utilized collective bargaining, where a large group of workers made the same demands simultaneously
• • Collective bargaining empowered workers by presenting a unified front to employers
• • Employers couldn't easily fire and replace all workers simultaneously without disrupting production and profits
• • Collective bargaining forced employers to negotiate with unions to meet workers' demands, balancing the power dynamic between labor and capital
• • Through collective bargaining, unions played a crucial role in improving working conditions, securing fair wages, and advocating for workers' rights in industrial societies
• • Unions formed at various levels, from individual factories to entire industries or nations, and were integral to labor movements advocating for better working conditions
• • Strikes and protests were common tactics used by unions to express demands for improved wages and working conditions, with strike rates increasing steadily throughout the nineteenth century
• • Different labor movements had varying ideologies and goals, with some advocating for reforms within the capitalist system while others sought revolutionary change
• • The expansion of industrial production led to the creation of mass markets worldwide, particularly in lands colonized by European powers, where labor movements took shape under colonial control
• • In India, British colonial powers restricted certain industries to protect British interests, hindering the development of Indian industries and exploiting Indian labor for cheap production
• • Colonial rulers in Africa kept wages low and suppressed labor organizing through laws and force, limiting the emergence of labor movements until after World War II
• • Transnational labor movements, involving enslaved peoples, migrant workers, and indentured laborers, made it challenging to organize labor across geographical and political boundaries
• • Despite barriers, organized labor movements played significant roles in advocating for workers' rights and improving working conditions, though characteristics and challenges varied across different industrial settings