The economic changes brought about during the late 1800's and early 1900's drastically affected citizens of the United States. The railroad expansion and economic growth encouraged travel amongst citizens and brought in millions of immigrants looking for work and a better life. Focus shifted from agricultural resources to industrial resources. Everyone wanted to move to the cities and were looking to prosper. The rise of corporate capitalism increased the amount of factories, mills, and mines and once the benefits of mass production were realized, it provided an increase in demand for non-skilled workers and resulting in the displacement of many skilled workers. Corporations were able to increase production with the abundance of available workers and required long hours with very little pay. They were able to pick and choose their employees and discard them as they pleased because workers were a dime a dozen. However, the economic depression that began in 1893 left millions unemployed. Wages were slashed multiple times, little regard was given to the safety and health conditions of employees. Such transactions lined the pockets of corporate leaders such as George Pullman but left the individual laborer lacking and a struggle for power and human rights quickly ensued. Long work hours and decreased pay, coupled with the increase in the cost of living caused the majority of laborers to struggle to support their families while watching the employing class prosper. Labor union leaders such as Samuel Gompers encouraged laborers to unite together and take collective action against the industrial factory system.
The living conditions and working conditions of the working class became progressively unsatisfactory as class division became increasingly obvious. Corporate leaders kept cutting wages and as a result, laborers began to unite and form unions to fight for better work conditions such as health and safety codes, shorter hours, and better wages.
