The Experiences of Chicago Industrial Workers

The author’s main purpose of writing this book was to draw attention to the experiences of Chicago industrial workers during and after the great depression. This book describes how these workers came up with tough survival strategies to endure numerous labor challenges.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Experiences of Chicago Industrial Workers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By doing so, the author demonstrates how a diverse workforce in Chicago harmonized their internal divisions to achieve an effective collective action. As such, the book’s thesis seeks to highlight the importance of unions for industrial workers in Chicago during the 1930s (Cohen 7). Cohen’s book is organized systematically to cover expansively on the experiences of Chicago industrial workers between the years 1910 and 1940. Through this, the author reveals how the powerless workers in the 1910s became politic ally active during the 1930s. A third of this book illustrates the background and labor issues faced by Chicago industrial workers during the early 1920s. In this section, the author illustrates how societies in Chicago were becoming more diversified. Consequently, the author notes that the ethnic leaders were more concerned about their communities losing their ethnic values. In the following chapters, the author majors on the relations between the employers and the employees. Through this section, the author illustrates how powers in the market shifted from employers to employees after the World War I. Cohen attributes this shift in power to the increase in labor demand. Due to an increase in labor demand, employers realized the need to address their employees’ grievances to increase labor turnover and production. In spite of advancement in employees’ compensation, the author notes that the employees’ working conditions remained unaddressed. In the subsequent s ection, the author focuses her attention on depression (Cohen 23). This section illustrates how the demand in the manufactured goods declined progressively leading to job losses. Through this section, Cohen illustrates how gains that had been gained in the first part of the book were lost. Due to these losses, employees retreated to their ethnic groups for solidarity. In the final part of the book, Cohen focuses on how the unions became politically active. Through this section, Cohen suggests that the depression challenges forced the industrial workers to be involved in the national politics. Before the depression, workers’ interests were satisfied at the local level. However, during the great depression their needs could not be addressed at the local level forcing them to be involved in the national politics.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the book, Cohen employs po stmodern theories in illustrating her concepts. Through this approach, Cohen is able to detail the experiences faced by the industrial workers as facts rather than as opinions. In developing the thesis of this book, the author employs her mother and mother-in-law’s experiences in the 1930s as her primary sources. Cohen points that her mother’s political awakening stories of the 1930s motivated her and provided her with numerous insights on Chicago industrial workers. This book can be classified under labor history subcategory. In respect to the course’s subject, Cohen’s book details the development of labor unions in the US before and after the great depression. Through this, Cohen illustrates how the labor unions’ actions during the great depression led to the labor reforms. Although this book provides a comprehensive coverage in industrial workers’ experiences in the 1930s, it provides little information on workers who were not members of the CIO. Equally, the book only details on labor history before the 1940s. Through this, the author failed to illustrate on the progresses of labor unions after the 1930s where most developments were gained. Work Cited Cohen, Lizabeth. Making a new deal: industrial workers in Chicago, 1919-1939. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Print. This research paper on The Experiences of Chicago Industrial Workers was written and submitted by user Lacey Goff to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.