​
  • NewJerseyAlmanac.com: Gateway to New Jersey Information
    • Links >
      • Gallery
      • Gallery-Videos: History
      • Gallery-Videos: Places >
        • Advertising & Sponsorships >
          • Labor Union Profiles >
            • Government-Overview
          • New Jersey Book Store >
            • Population
            • New Jersey Timeline-Prehistoric-1699
            • New Jersey Timeline 1700-1749
            • New Jersey Timeline 1750-1799
            • New Jersey Timeline 1850-1899
            • New Jersey Timeline 1800-1849
            • New Jersey Timeline 1900-1949
            • New Jersey Timeline 1950-1999
            • New Jersey Timeline 2000-
          • News
          • Timeline
      • Gallery-Health
      • Gallery--Wildlife
      • Gallery- Battles/Military
      • Gallery-Settlement-1799 >
        • Gallery-Politics
        • Gallery-Newark
        • Gallery-Trenton
        • Gallery-Jersey Shore
        • Gallery-Princeton
        • Gallery-Labor & Industry
        • Gallery-Hudson County >
          • Gallery 1800-1899
          • Gallery 1800-1899 >
            • Gallery 1900-
            • DataBank-Population
    • Law firms
    • About
    • Employers
    • Transportation-History Air >
      • Transportation-History World War II-2000s
      • Fast Facts >
        • Contact
        • Zazzle Store
      • E-books
    • New Jersey Anthology
    • Store
  • History
    • Native Americans
    • Exploration and Settlement
    • British Colonial Period
    • Royal Governance
    • Path to Revolution
    • Revolutionary War
    • 19th Century Industrial Development
    • Civil War
    • Post-War Economy & Reform
    • Election of Woodrow Wilson
    • World War I and 1920s
    • Great Depression and 1930s
    • 1930s; Prelude to War, Lindbergh, Hindenburgh & War of the Worlds
    • World War II
    • Post-War Suburbanization
    • 1960s and Richard Hughes
    • 1970s & 1980s--Income tax, Brendan Byrne and Thomas Kean
    • 1990s--Florio & Whitman
    • 9/11 & McGreevey Administration
    • Codey & Corzine
    • Chris Christie
    • Phil Murphy
  • Biographies
    • Biographies E-G
    • Biographies H-M
    • Biographies N-R
    • Biographies S-Z
    • Labor Unions: Overview >
      • Labor Movement History
      • Gallery-Labor & Industry
      • Law Schools
  • Education
    • Higher Education-Directory
  • Health-Status and Comparisons
    • Health--New Jersey Hospitals: Atlantic-Gloucester >
      • New Jersey Hospitals: Essex-Middlesex Counties
      • Health-New Jersey Hospitals Monmouth-Passaic
      • New Jersey Hospitals: Salem-Warren Counties
    • Health-Insurance/HMOs
    • Health--Hospitals
    • Health--Medical and Nursing Schools
    • Health-Consumer information
    • Health--Economic Impact
    • Links-Health
    • Marijuana
  • Environment
    • Environment-Air
    • Environment-Water
    • Environment--Solid Waste
    • Environment--Waste Disposal History
    • Wildlife
    • Climate
  • Geology
  • Recreation
  • Restaurants
  • Hotels/Lodging
  • Insurance
  • New Jersey Government--Governor & Executive
  • New Jersey Battlefields/Military
  • Historic Villages & Towns
  • New Jersey Sports Stadiums & Teams
  • New Jersey Theaters
    • Theaters-Central Jersey
    • Theaters--South Jersey
  • Museums-Art
  • Museums-History
  • Zoos/Aquariums
  • Waterparks
  • Swiming holes, lakes & natural pools
  • Arboretums/Gardens
  • Amusement Parks
    • Amusement Parks-Profiles
  • Beaches
    • Beaches M-Z
  • Symbols
  • State Parks
  • National Parks
  • Equestrian Centers/Riding
  • Equestrian Centers/Riding-Central NJ
  • Equestrian Centers/Riding-South Jersey
  • Transportation-Overview
    • New Jersey Municipalities >
      • NJ Government Services
      • Taxes
      • Real Estate >
        • Congressional Delegation
        • Government--Lobbyists
      • Transportation-Air
      • Transportation-Roads
      • Transportation-Links
      • Government--Legislature
      • New Jersey Courts
      • Government--Legislator Directory Districts 1-4 >
        • Transportation-Rail and Bus Transit >
          • Economy: Overview
        • Population-Current Overview
    • Growth Companies
    • Population-Current Overview >
      • Legal practice-Overview
      • Population-Historical overview
    • Transportation-History
    • Links-Law
    • New Jersey Counties
    • Political History
    • Venture Capital
    • Elections and Politics
  • Equestrian Centers-Equine Rescue
  • Equestrian Centers-Therapeutic/Special Needs
  • Equestrian Centers-Resources/Links
  • Equestrian Centers-Racing
  • Associations-Business
    • Associations-Legal
    • Associations-Real Estate
    • Associations-Environment/Natural Resources
    • Associations-Social Welfare
    • Associations-Public Safety
    • Associations-Health
  • New Jersey Presidential Quiz
  • Kean University
  • College of New Jersey
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers University
  • New Jersey City University
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Rowan University
  • Ramapo College of New Jersey
  • Thomas Edison State University of New Jersey
  • Stockton University
  • Opinion
  • Opinion-An Appreciation of Brendan Byrne
  • Links
  • New Jersey Social Media Links
  • Media/Opinion/Blogs
  • Adult Education
  • Shopping Outlets
  • Foundations
  • Shopping Malls
  • Best NJ Shops
  • Best NJ Food Shops
  • New Jersey History Timeline - January
  • New Jersey History Timeline - February
  • New Jersey History Timeline - March
    • New Jersey History Timeline - April
  • New Jersey History Timeline - May
    • New Jersey History Timeline - June
    • New Jersey History Timeline - July
  • New Jersey History Timeline - August
    • New Jersey History Timeline - July >
      • New Jersey History Timeline - September
      • New Jersey History Timeline-October
  • New Jersey History Timeline - December
  • New Jersey History Timeline - December
  • Opinion-On the Passing of Brendan Byrne
  • Casino-Hotels
  • NJ Online Casinos
  • Sports Gambling
  • Lottery
  • Clifford Goldman Dies
  • NJ Sexual Abuse Resources
  • Movies, TV set in NJ
  • Princeton University
  • Bloomfield College
  • Caldwell University
  • Centenary University
  • College of Saint Elizabeth
  • Drew University
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Felician University
  • Georgian Court University
  • Monmouth University
  • Rider University
  • Saint Peters University
  • Seton Hall University
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • Princeton University History Timeline
  • New Jersey Day Trips - Liberty Park
  • New Jersey Day Trips - Asbury Park
  • Day Trip - Ocean Grove
  • Opinion-Remembering Jerry O'Connor
  • Real Estate as a Side Hustle
  • Most Picturesque Places in New Jersey
  • starting a business
  • Operating a Business
  • New Jersey Geology
  • Financing a Business
  • Mental Health Resources in New Jersey
  • New Jersey Disasters
  • Pillar College
  • Charities- Overview
    • Leading Companies
    • Charities- Cardiac/Cancer/Diabetes
    • Charities-Addiction
  • Finding a New Jersey Job
  • Filing a Complaint
  • Hiring a Lawyer in New Jersey
  • Buying a Home
  • Doing Good
  • State Government Departments & Ages
NewJerseyAlmanac.com

                                History-- Post-War Economy and Progressive Movement

 *  Native Americans  *  Exploration and Settlement  *  British colony
*  Royal governance  *  Path to Revolution  *  Revolutionary War
*  Industrialization  *  Civil War  *  Post-War Economy & Reform
*  Woodrow Wilson as Governor  *  World War I & 1920s  *  Great Depression
*  World War II  *  Post-War Development  *  1960s & Richard Hughes
*  1970s & Income tax  *  1990s-Whitman & Florio  *  9/11 & McGreevey Administration
*  Codey & Corzine 
*  Chris Christie

 *  Phil Murphy
*  Home
*  History
*  Population
*  Government
*  Politics
*  Lobbyists 
*
  Taxes
*  State Symbols
*  Biographies
*  Economy
*  Employers
*
  Real Estate
*  Education
*  Recreation

*  Restaurants 
*  Hotels  
*  Health 
*  Environment​

*  Stadiums/Teams
*  Theaters 
*  Historic Villages

*  Historic homes 
*  Battlefields/Military 
*  Lighthouses 
*  Art Museums 
*  History Museums 
*  Wildlife 
​*  Climate  
*  Zoos/Aquariums
*  Beaches 
*  National Parks 
*  State Parks 
*  Amusement Parks
 
*  Waterparks 
*  Swimming holes 
*  Arboretums  

More...
*  
Gallery of images and videos
*  
Fast Facts on key topics
*  Timeline of dates and events
*
   Anthology of quotes, comments and jokes
*  
Links
to other resources
-- Emergence of organized labor   

        Before the Civil War, workers had begun to form labor unions to strengthen their position in bargaining for better wages and working conditions. In 1864, while the Civil War continued, one of the first unions, the Longshoremen's Union Protective Association, was founded to organize dockworkers in the port of New York, but it was later dissolved in the face of stiff opposition from shippers. Most of the other  early unions also failed under the pressure of management opposition and post-War recessions that created high levels of unemployment and weakened labor.

       After the War, New Jersey resumed the rapid industrialization which had slowed during the conflict. Its factories relied on a renewed supply of immigrant labor, supplemented at the lower end of the job scale by freed slaves who emigrated in large numbers from the South. The willingness of New Jersey politicians to solicit economic development of all types also brought new investment, with the state known for its weak laws on how owners raised financing and managed their operations. Working conditions were harsh, and eventually workers attempted to join together to improve their working conditions and strengthen demand for higher wages.

       In 1879, the Federation of Trades & Labor Unions of New Jersey was founded, with its initial goal the enactment of factory safety and labor laws, including requiring installation of fire escapes; better ventilation at workplaces; and restrictions on employing children. The labor movement also sought legislation to mandate education for all children, thus constraining their availability as laborers. The unions also organized politically to achieve their ends, seeking electoral reforms to weaken the control of political bosses. In 1892, the state Federation affiliated with the American Federation of Labor  created by Samuel Gompers, thereby joining the national labor coalition.

        Yet the labor movement in New Jersey would have difficulty in overcoming divisions between its factions. The trades and crafts represented by the state and national federations would resist joining with the industrial unions composed largely of factory workers who formed the Congress of industrial Organizations. It was not until 1961 that the trade and industrial unions respectively represented by the AFL and the CIO combined their separate organizations into the national and state AFL-CIO--the last state in the nation to do so. 

-- Progressive movement

        Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the pressure for reform in New Jersey and the nation
took the form of the Progressive movement, with advocates in each party pressing for change in regulating the economy, ending the abuse of monopoly power, improving workplace conditions, opening up the electoral process and combatting corruption. Nationally, leaders like William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, Robert La Follette of Wisconsin and Theodore Roosevelt of New York led efforts to enact a range of state and federal laws to secure their goals.

       In New Jersey, after Governor Woodrow Wilson's election in 1910, the New Jersey State Federation of Labor was able to pass the nation’s first effective workmen’s compensation law. And the Federation continued winning victories, including legalizing the right to organize and bargain collectively, raising wages and shortening work hours, banning child labor, and increasing workplace health and safety laws.

       In 1939, New Jersey’s second labor federation, the Industrial Union Council, was formed. And it was on September 25, 1961 when more than 3,000 union members packed into a Newark armory to watch as the two organizations formally came together to create the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. Before the Civil War, workers had begun to form labor unions to strengthen their position in bargaining for better wages and working conditions. Most of these early unions failed under the pressure of management opposition and post-War recessions that created high levels of unemployment and weakened labor solidarity. In 1879, however, the New Jersey State Labor Congress was founded, and in 1883 it succeeded in obtaining enactment of the first New Jersey law protecting the right to organize labor unions.           

       With the emergence of organized labor, issues such as child labor, workplace safety and the minimum wage became increasingly frequent topics for public debate, but it would not be until the next century that New Jersey took effective action to improve the lot of the average worker.

PictureStrike meeting outside the Botto House in Paterson. Image: American Labor Museum
   -- Paterson Silk Strike   

   
    In 1913, some 25,000 workers at Paterson silk mills shut down the textile industry for six months in an effort to get a minimum daily wage of twelve dollars, an eight-hour work day and a limit in the number of looms assigned to each worker. On February 25, the first day of the strike, the Industrial Workers of the World's prominent feminist leader Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was arrested after giving a talk on uniting strikers across racial boundaries, with the police charging her and other speakers with inciting violence through radical speech. The bitter strike resulted in five deaths in violent clashes with security forces retained by company management, and the blacklisting of some 2,000 workers for their alleged leadership roles in the confrontation.  Although the strikers largely failed to achieve their goals, the public attention drawn to the strikers' demands and the harsh conditions of the factory workplace soon would help to generate both federal and State government legislation to establish minimum standards for pay, hours and workplace safety.
​*  Paterson, New Jersey: America's Silk City, National Park Service
*  Botto House, American Labor Museum


Picture
New Jersey Orange & Yellow
drawstring bag

​15.5″ W by 19.5″ H
​$30
​


Next--World War I & 1920s

 *  Native Americans  *  Exploration and Settlement  *  British colony
*  Royal governance  *  Path to Revolution  *  Revolutionary War
*  Industrialization  *  Civil War  *  Post-War Economy & Reform
*  Woodrow Wilson as Governor  *  World War I & 1920s  *  Great Depression
*  World War II  *  Post-War Development  * 
1960s & Richard Hughes
*  1970s & Income tax  *  1990s-Whitman & Florio  *  9/11 & McGreevey Administration
*  Codey & Corzine 
*  Chris Christie

 *  Phil Murphy