“When was America great? At the turn of the century, our economy was rocking. We had no income tax, and all we had was tariffs.” – the next U.S. Commerce Secretary (referring to 1900, not 2000)
While Howard Lutnick, quoted above, is correct that America in 1900 was great for some, it was unquestionably not great for the average American worker.
In 1900, in addition to having no income tax, the United States had very few protections for workers, and many of the rights and safety standards we take for granted today were still years, or even decades, away from becoming law.
- No Minimum Wage or Overtime Laws
At the beginning of the 20th century, there was no such thing as minimum wage. Employers were free to pay workers as little as they wanted, which often resulted in wages that were barely enough to cover basic living expenses. This was especially true in industries like textile manufacturing, mining, and agriculture, where workers, including children, were paid pennies per hour. Women and children were frequently paid less than their male counterparts for the same work, adding an extra layer of inequality to the workplace.
Many laborers in 1900 were subject to extremely long hours, typically working 10 to 12-hour days, six days a week. The idea of “overtime pay” did not exist, meaning that workers were expected to work until the job was done, with no additional compensation for the long hours. Factory workers, in particular, endured grueling shifts in dangerous conditions, with little to no time off for rest or recovery.
- Lack of Workplace Safety Standards
Perhaps one of the most dangerous aspects of working in 1900 was the near-total absence of workplace safety regulations. Industrial workplaces, particularly in factories, mines, and construction sites, were filled with hazards. Machinery often lacked safety guards, ventilation was poor, and workers had little protection from harmful chemicals, dust, or noise. This lack of safety oversight led to frequent accidents, many of which were fatal. Miners, for example, faced the constant threat of cave-ins, explosions, and respiratory diseases due to long-term exposure to coal dust.
There were no government agencies regulating workplace safety in 1900. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) wasn’t established until 1971.
- Child Labor Was Rampant
In 1900, child labor was widespread, with an estimated 1.7 million children under the age of 16 working in factories, farms, and other industries. These children were often employed in dangerous conditions, performing tasks that were physically demanding and hazardous to their health. In factories, children worked long hours for very low wages, often in conditions that exposed them to harmful chemicals or machinery. In mines, children worked as “breaker boys,” sorting coal in dark, cramped, unsafe conditions.
While child labor laws were enacted in some states in the early 20th century, it wasn’t until the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 that significant federal protections for children in the workforce were established.
- No Workers’ Compensation
In 1900, there was no system in place for compensating workers who were injured on the job. If an industrial worker was injured or killed, they and their families were left to fend for themselves, often with little or no support. Many workers were forced to pay for their medical treatment out of pocket, and there were no disability benefits or workers’ compensation programs to cover lost wages or provide financial relief during recovery.
While workers’ compensation systems were introduced in some states in the early 20th century, the first being Wisconsin in 1911, the majority of workers remained unprotected until much later.
- No Anti-Discrimination Laws
Not surprisingly, workers in 1900 had no real protections against discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, age, or disability. While slavery had been abolished a few decades earlier, racial discrimination remained rampant, especially in the South, where Black Americans were often relegated to the most menial, dangerous jobs for lower wages. Women were generally confined to low-paying “feminine” jobs such as domestic work or garment manufacturing, and their wages were typically much lower than those of men performing similar work.
It wasn’t until the Civil Rights Movement and the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that racial and gender discrimination in the workplace was outlawed nationwide. Age discrimination wasn’t prohibited until the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and discrimination on the basis of disability wasn’t outlawed until the passage of the Americans with Disabilities in 1990.
- No Right to Organize or Bargain Collectively
The right to form labor unions or engage in collective bargaining was not legally protected in 1900. Workers who attempted to organize unions to demand better wages, working conditions, and hours often faced retaliation, including being fired, blacklisted, or even arrested. Strikes, like the Pullman Strike of 1894, were met with violent suppression by police and military forces.
While the labor movement gained traction in the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the passage of the Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act) in 1935 that workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively were formally protected by law.
- No Job Protected Leave to Care for a Worker’s or a Family Member’s Illness
The Family and Medical Leave Act wasn’t enacted until 1993. Workers in 1900 who were too ill to work were often forced to choose between their health and their income, knowing that missing work could mean losing their job or not being able to afford basic necessities. If your child fell ill with diphtheria (widespread vaccination against diphtheria was decades away), you didn’t get 12 weeks of job protected leave, as currently provided by the FMLA, to care for your sick, and possibly dying, child.
Howard Lutnick is correct that the turn of the last century was great for some Americans. In 1900 John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil was a decade away from being broken up for violating federal antitrust laws. At the time, Rockefeller controlled 90% of all U.S. oil production.
Rockefeller would live another 37 years before passing away at 97 at his Florida mansion. The average American worker born in 1900 could expect to live about half as long as Rockefeller, in far, far less pleasant circumstances than he.