Capitalism and Its Discontents:
Economic Theories and the Rise of Labor Unions

Image of miners sitting on waste rock.

Under the capitalistic economic system, factory and mine owners made massive profits due to the low wages they paid to their workers. Coupled with the harsh working conditions, laborers began to form labor unions in order to protest for higher wages and better working conditions. Some argued that these conditions were inherent in the capitalist mode of production and proposed new theories about property ownership which they believed would solve these problems.

In this topic, you will explore the labor unions and economic and social theories opposed to capitalism that were embraced by some people.

Essential Questions

  • Why did workers organize into labor unions?
  • What was the role of capitalism and market competition in the Industrial Revolution?
  • What were some theories opposed to capitalism?