inner of the competition would get a silver shovel hung on their furnace, but no extra pay. The issue of pay, work hours, and conditions would come to a pinnacle in the late 1800s and again in the early 1900s.
             From the 1870s to the turn of the century, the United States economy was a roller coaster ride. Wages decreased which resulted in the standard of living decreasing. Furthermore, many workers did not have the leverage to complain because their employer owned the town and house in which they lived. In 1869, the Knights of Labor was formed and they pushed for regulating the railroads, known as the Granger movement. However, the Knights of Labor will enjoy most of it's success in the 1880s. In 1877, the Great Upheaval occurs which impacts most of the country. During this time, the country was in a depression which resulted in the wages of railroad workers being lowered. Therefore, employees went on strike without a union and community members also joined. The strike had a domino effect and paralyzed the railroads and the economy
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