Montgomery Fall Of The House Of Labor

Montgomery, David. The Fall of the House of Labor: The Workplace, the State, and American Labor Activism, 1865-1925. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1989.

Montgomery’s Fall of the House of Labor: The Workplace, the State, and American Labor Activism, 1865-1925 is a comprehensive and unparalleled exploration of the struggle of the American worker between 1865-1925. The book is comprised of nine essays on the conflicts between labor, management and the state. Montgomery’s thesis is three part: Its three basic points of reference are the human relationships that wage labor generated at the workplace, the changing structures of economic and political power fashioned by the evolution of the nineteenth-century competitive industrial capitalism to twentieth-century imperialism and the diverse styles of thought and activity by which working class activists sought to interpret and improve the society in which they lived. (2)

Montgomery also clarifies that he will focus on the: “less(er) known chapters in American workers experience, such as the struggles of textile and garment workers before 1900 and of railroad, mining, and electrical workers after that time.” (3) Montgomery extensively analyzes the developments in labor from 18651925, using the three parts as building blocks to explain the story of labor in America. The books begins with the experience of the American worker, then moves to the relations between the worker and his employee then finally their relations with the state. In contrast to earlier works that focused only on the developments within the American worker, Montgomery analyzes this group as it compares to changes in the National and International political economies. Montgomery finds that to understand the issue the reader must understand the class structures. These class structures dictated the plight and ability of advancement for the workers. Despite the ability of some to move up, highly skilled

laborers remained mostly native born or Americanized, English speakers who earned more and had ability for advancement. The unskilled laborers were composed of recent immigrants, nonwhites and women. Montgomery highlights the bitter relationships between labor and management. Montgomery extensively analyzes management’s tools in the struggle, the effect of new technology, piecework, and scientific management. Montgomery emphasizes how scientific management diluted skilled labor and through standardization eliminated the reliance on the initiative on the worker. The early labor movement clearly influenced politics but towards the end of the book labor seemed to have lost its advantage with the federal government and management united to slow the labor movements power. The “fall” in Montgomery’s title needs to be explained further, to believe that organized labor had “fallen” by 1925 does not seem appropriate. Montgomery highlights how even at its height, the labor movement never had more then 10-15% of potential union members. Montgomery’s methodology uses extensive primary, secondary materials in his research. He also cites numerous publications in various European languages, allowing him to contrast the developments of American workers with those of their contemporaries in Europe. The American laborer was competing with those in Europe and these contrast national differences. Fall of the House of Labor Montgomery helps the historian to broaden their view and to realize the larger impact of localized labor struggles. These struggles and relationships are the story of the development of the American Industry.

Montgomery’s ability to synthesis information to help explain why some labor movements were successful while others failed are the strongest points in this book. Montgomery provides an excellent and comprehensive account of the many important labor struggles and class struggles during the period 1865-1925.