User:Missybryan/Allegheny Textile Strike of 1845

The Allegheny Textile Strike of 1845 began on September 15 in what is now known as the North Side in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Market House where more than 400 textile workers awaited an update on their push for a ten hour day, as opposed to 12, without a pay cut.

Background
The strike began over textile workers, primarily women and children, fighting for a ten hour day without a pay cut from their typical 12 hour day. Civic leaders and property owners were worried about three things other than the gender norms that were being rejected: scaring potential investors away from the city, the challenging the idea of class harmony, and the challenging of capitalist values.

Strike
it was a peaceful strike until October 7th when there was a 'riot' that challenged gender norms about how women behaved in strikes and protests--women began literal mudslinging. These challengings of gender norms and the amoral of profane actions by women in these strikes were so powerful in the eyes of the public that it influenced people who supported the ten hour work day to no longer support it.

Media Reactions
The media was in support of the strikes (pg 42)

Aftermath
On October 13th, civic leaders attempted to write to factory owners and convince them to change the industry standard to 10 hour work days but they were unsuccessful in this effort. It wasn't until mid-october that factories were reopened with about half of their normal amount fo workers. In March 1848, a law was finally passed for the 10 hour workday, however a provision in it allowed for special contracts allowing a twelve hour day. This caused another strike in the textile industry that mirrored this onen in 1848.