Change Must Occur for Progress to Proceed in the Post-Civil essays

Change Must Occur for Progress to Proceed in the Post-Civil essays Change Must Occur for Progress to Proceed in the Post-Civil War America Many people may define progress as moving forward, advancing, or the growth of a concept for the good of the people that it affects. The vision of progress held by Terence V. Powderly was clearly expressed in the document Terence V. Powderly, The Knights of Labor, 1889. Booker T. Washington also expressed his vision of progress in an address given in Atlanta in 1895. These men had a vision which was to unite the peoples of America to work toward bettering the nations economy and the working and living conditions of its citizens. In order for this progress to occur in post-Civil War America the people had to see how the current conditions of the country, poverty, segregation and racism, and poor working atmosphere were hindering the potential progress of the free workforce. Once these problems were identified, a change had to be accepted by all. Terence V. Powderly was the Grand Master Workman for the Knights of Labor in 1889. In a constitution adopted by the Industrial Brotherhood, he addressed his vision of what needed to be done for workers to ensure a better life for the citizens and advancement of the country. Powderly fought for fair, safe conditions in the workplace (miners, manufacturers, or builders), the enactment of an eight hour work day, and for workers to receive a proper share of the money that they earn. Also he fought for the prohibition of child labor defined as any worker under the age of fourteen. Powderly believed, It was necessary to teach the laborer that it was not essential for him to grovel in the dust at the feet of a master in order to win his title deed to everlasting bliss in the hereafter, 1 Most significantly Powderly wanted to teach the masses not be controlled by the forces in charge without just compensation and conditions for their work. Sharecropping was a common means of living on the South ...