How did workers respond to the expansion of industrialization and new industrial economy?

Answer 1

Farmers

• During the era there was a dramatic expansion in agriculture, especially in the Plains states, which attracted large numbers of immigrants from Europe, especially German Americans and Scandinavian Americans.
• The government issued 160 acre (64 ha) tracts either free or at nominal cost to qualifying persons moving to the west under the Homestead Act.
• This expansion into the west created a need for workers in the area to build railroads and facilitate trade. The number of farms tripled from 2.0 million in 1860 to 6.0 million in 1900
• With the expansion of the west and railroads, and the Hepburn act which made railroads charge consistent rates, smaller farmers were able to sell the crops to the industrial workers.
• Farmers that relied on cash crops - tobacco, cotton, etc relied on the industrial market to purchase there goods

** Industrial Workers**

• Labor Unions to protect/expand workers rights ex- Knights of Labor 8 hour workdays instead of 10 "8 hours for work, 8 hours to sleep, 8 hours for what we will"
• Labor Unions attempted to ban Chinese labor which they felt threatened there job security
• Even though Labor Unions only accounted for 5% of the workers population they were usually supported by the "silent majority"- The idea behind the silent majority is that even though most workers didn't want to join unions because they were scared of Pinkerton Agents or were bound by yellow dog contracts, when they unions acted they usually were supported by most of the workers in industrial factories
• The turn to the City
• The increase of industrialization in the city led to an increase in the number of jobs - these jobs were many for unskilled labors (think immigrants )

Answer 2

They organized labor unions.