Labor Essay

It is certainly true that between 1865 and 1900 industrial workers were desperately trying to improve their living and working conditions. In the late 19th century, a rise in wages created a comfortable lifestyle for skilled laborers; however, unskilled laborers did not enjoy the same comforts. Furthermore, the living conditions improved for skilled laborers but not for the common urban laborer. Lastly, the working conditions remained roughly the same throughout the period. There was a modest improvement in wages and living conditions for white, skilled, male laborers; however, working conditions and living conditions remained harsh, unsatisfactory and dangerous for unskilled laborers of both races and genders.

During the late nineteenth century wages for workers of various demographic groups improved at different rates. The skilled laborers enjoyed a seventy one percent increase (LS), which yielded them a six hundred eighty six salary per year (LS) that gave them a comfortable lifestyle since “the $600 figure widely considered the minimum for a reasonable level of comfort”(Brinkley 490). While skilled laborers’ wages increased at such a considerable degree, wages for an annual salary of unskilled laborers only increased by thirty one percent (LS). This yielded an income of three hundred four dollars (LS), which is clearly well below the necessary income to support a comfortable lifestyle. Although unskilled laborers only made three hundred four dollars on average, many day laborers were immigrants who’s lifestyle in their original country was much poorer than the one they acquired in the United States. An Alsatian blacksmith said, “The pay here is good, but the labor is hard”(S 78), Sadie Frowne who emigrated from Poland said, “I will be making $7 a week and then I can save at least $3.50 a week. I have over $200 saved now” (S 82). These immigrants clearly appreciate and are happy with the increase of wages. Similar to the increase of wages for skilled labors...