During the period of time between 1865 and 1900, the United States was going through a difficult time. The country had just come out of a war and, at the same time, was making an attempt to industrialize. The plight of laborers during this time was a terrible one. Not only were the working conditions atrocious, the workers' salaries were meager, and they had no benefits or retirement options.
The Civil War had created many jobs for unskilled workers. Jobs such as digging trenches for the troops, transporting the dead and wounded, and providing food for the South. …
