Labor Unions in the Late 19th Century

In the late 1800s, U.S. labor unions were formed to protect and improve the "rights and interests" of workers. One of the main driving forces of labor unions was worker safety, which was at an all-time low during that period in time. Death rates in factories were extremely high and the working conditions for men, women, and children were dangerous and unfair. There was also a noticeable imbalance of power between the wealthy employers/owners and the lowly, under-payed workers. With these and so many other intolerable working situations, labor unions fought to help American workers. Their fight faced many obstacles in the beginning because owners of large companies didn't think they owed their workers much and even the government viewed some of the strikes as conspiracies. Luckily, labor unions have lasted the test of time and have improved working conditions like mandatory, sanitized environments with decent, acceptable pay.

The Ku Klux Klan

The first Klan formed during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War to suppress primarily African Americans and to "promote white supremacy". They were (and still are) an extremist group whose hate has grown to include Catholics and immigrants. The Ku Klux Klan are infamous for wearing the all-white robes and masks that hide their identities and threaten and scare individuals. They have gatherings where members (and even their children) come together in a circle and burn the cross. They say that the Klan isn't burning the Cross, but really the warmth of the fire is the Holy Spirit warming their bodies.
During the 20th century, their existence died and resurrected several times due to the horrible actions of the Klan's members. Consequently, the murders, bombings, and rapes caused by the Klan lead to their many downfalls. The number of members has drastically fallen since their 5 million peak around the 1920s, but they still exist in small groups spread across America.

Reconstruction Cartoon

This Civil War Reconstruction political cartoon illustrates what the idea of emancipation for newly freed African American slaves in the South was supposed to look like (center picture), i.e., a close-knit, safe, and content family, happily safe in their home. Surrounding the fantasy is what African American slaves in the South really faced after the "emancipation". The pictures depict them as being beaten, homeless, distraught, and dying.

Stephen Douglas

Stephen Douglas was born on April 23, 1813 in Brandon, Vermont. He was elected as a U.S. House of Representatives in 1843. Douglas was elected into the Senate and was involved in finding the solution to slavery.  He believed in popular sovereignty, which benefited the majority's vote. He thought that this idea would solve the slavery problem; unfortunately, many northerners weren't happy about it. He ran as the Northern Democratic Party nominee for president in 1860, but lost to Abraham Lincoln. Due to his small stature, he was nicknamed the "Little Giant".