American History Since 1865 - Essay Example

During the period of industrial growth, labor cost reduction measures like piece work and low wages victimized the workers along with long working hours, unsafe working conditions, and no concern for women and child laborers (Academic American History, n.d).  In this scenario, AF of L achieved success due to its focus on improving the income and working conditions of the workers, its pragmatism and emphasis on the autonomy of its member unions, and dissatisfaction of union leaders with the Knights of Labor (Fantasia & Voss, 2004).

  Present-day labor unions in the US still advocate legislation and policies in the interest of workers but they have assumed a larger role in dealing with global trade issues and use collective bargaining power to achieve higher wages and more benefits (Lichtenstein, 2003). They also play a more active role in politics. Urbanization - blessing or curse Urbanization led to the emergence of skyscrapers, museums, theaters, parks, and mansions making America a land of economic opportunities and an exciting life.

But at the same time, the cities became overcrowded with mushrooming of slums, crime, diseases, and class distinctions (Academic American History, n.d). Also, there were religious impacts like conflicts over the evolution and biblical interpretation which created the fundamental and modernist wings in Protestantism (Scott, 1988).  A few immigrant faiths also gained considerable strength. The Frontier In 1890, with the abolition of a contiguous frontier line, thousands of native Indians were killed with the remaining constrained to live the life of Whites (Scott, 1988).

The Frontier was the dividing line between two contrasting cultures of Americans and Indians, described as the meeting point of savagery and civilization (Slotkin, 2000). Economic and Social Unrest The economic conflict and social unrest of the 1890s as a result of agrarian and labor discontent, political corruption, regionalism, and growing social divide (Page and Jacobs, 2009). Consequently, the decade was marked by several strikes and economic depression.