Muckraker's Working Class

Imagine going to work everyday for over twelve hours with only a thirty minute break, and only getting paid two dollars per week. For many working class americans in the late nineteenth century this was a reality. As a result of the injustice placed on the working class new literary movements arose, including the muckrakers. The muckrakers sought to highlight the social issues plaguing the country. One of the most prominent muckrakers during this time was Theodore Dreiser. He is well known for his novel, Sister Carrie, which highlights the plight that many who moved to cities faced. He focused on how labor changed throughout this time period, when the manufacturing and railroad industries were experiencing exponential growth. Dreiser not only …show more content…
The first major union to form in the nineteenth century was the Knights of Labor. The Knights of Labor sought to increase wages for all people and to instill an eight hour workday. After several violent incidents this union decreased in popularity while others were forming at a rapid pace. This unionization of labor can either be attributed to greed for higher wages or to trying to gain the “rights at work that they already had as independent citizens” (Domhoff). The labor unions were not solely about wages. Contrary to popular beliefs the unions held the rights of the workers in the highest regards. Without first affirming the rights of citizens the unions would not have developed to be a powerful institution in American cities. Due to unionization, labor songs took hold during this time period to show the masses what they were striking for: “your homes and freedom…[to] reform laws.” Songs allowed the unions to spread their message in an easy to remember fashion. Through their memorable tunes they reached a wider audience, resulting in their membership increasing. Increased membership allowed them to have more influence over the government, and have a higher success rate in changing the laws. In order to change the laws the workers needed something bigger than manpower which led them to utilize …show more content…
Once they realized that this behavior was wrong they took the reigns and fought for what was right. They did this through joining forces in organizations known as unions and using the power of the many to conduct