Amidst Crisis, Workers Gain Leverage

The outbreak of World War I led to a critical labor shortage in the U.S. as the demand for workers surged due to industrial expansion, particularly after the U.S. entered the war in 1917. This labor gap, historically filled by European immigrants, was exacerbated by the cessation of transatlantic migration at the war’s onset. Workers, particularly first and second generation immigrants influenced by European socialist ideals, found themselves in a powerful position with rising wages and improving working conditions. The necessity of labor during this period not only highlighted the value of workers but also their newfound leverage against the ownership class, despite ongoing violence and resistance from employers.