Labor in the age of industrialization

During the late 19th century and early 20th century, there was much labor conflict in the railroad, steel and mining industries.  In the 1880's there was estimated to have been 500 strikes a year, involving a whopping amount of 150,000 employees, and by 1890, 500 went to 1,000, involving 700,000 workers.  By the 1900's, the number of strikes became 4,000 a year.  500 times or so, the Government would would send federal troops or militias to put down Labor strikes.  There was many a bloody incident involving state militias, private police forces and federal troops.

"During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, labor struggles were more acute in the United States than in many European countries. Today, in contrast, labor relations in the United States are more cooperative and less conflict-ridden than elsewhere. The story of how the United States forged an enduring and workable system of collective bargaining after more than half a century of bitter struggles is one of the most important themes in modern American history." -Digital history.