From the 1870s to the 1890s, America's workers became aware of the dangerous conditions and unfair pay they were working for. These conditions developed as a result of the expansion of industry which required more workers to work for less pay in order for the employer to make the same profit. Employers, in a sense, cheated their workers with long work days and very few benefits. In response, workers began to form large unions, both nonviolent and violent, such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Smaller unions were also formed, but they were short-lived and held no substantial power to improve the working environment for workers. Strikes were frequent and when workers learned about them, strikes spread to different cities. The Haymarket riot and the major railway strikes are excellent examples of violent strikes that ultimately led to improved working conditions. Of all the efforts by workers, it was the violent strikes in the 1870s-1890s, such as the Haymarket Riot, that attracted the attention of employers and motivated them to listen to workers and improve working conditions and wages. the conditions in which people worked were unhealthy and sometimes dangerous. Furthermore, with the expansion of industries, it was easy for employers to find new labor supply among women and children. Highly skilled workers were not needed for the booming industry to function, which is why women and children could be used (Pelling 49). Because of these conditions, there was a wave of men and women of all trades and abilities who joined trade unions in their thousands and began to strike frequently. This period of frequent strikes is commonly referred to as the “Great Upheaval” (...... middle of paper ...... t. There are many examples throughout history that confirm that aggression is often the only way to achieve results It took more than a hundred years to achieve the eight-hour workday and the two-day weekend If the only steps taken to achieve these conditions were peaceful and nonviolent, American workers could still fight for them today the success of the first unions that employees today have influence on how they are treated fairly in the workplace. The violent strikes that took place from 1870 to 1890 were absolutely necessary and working conditions improved tenfold. and the strikes demonstrated that workers would not give up no matter how the employers reacted, peaceful unions fell because they were easy to silence, while unions that embraced aggression were able to attract the attention of employers and force them to improve conditions and wages..