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The Political Economy of Early Southern Unionism: Race, Politics, and Labor in the South, 1880–1953

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  • Friedman, Gerald

Abstract

Southern unions were the weak link in the American labor movement, organizing a smaller share of the labor force than did unions in the northern states or in Europe. Structural conditions, including a racially divided rural population, obstructed southern unionization. The South's distinctive political system also blocked unionization. A strict racial code compelling whites to support the Democratic Party and the disfranchisement of southern blacks and many working-class whites combined to create a one-party political system that allowed southern politicians to ignore labor's demands. Unconstrained by working-class voters, southern politicians facilitated strikebreaking and favored employers against unions.

Suggested Citation

  • Friedman, Gerald, 2000. "The Political Economy of Early Southern Unionism: Race, Politics, and Labor in the South, 1880–1953," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 60(2), pages 384-413, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:60:y:2000:i:02:p:384-413_02
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    Cited by:

    1. Henry S Farber & Daniel Herbst & Ilyana Kuziemko & Suresh Naidu, 2021. "Unions and Inequality over the Twentieth Century: New Evidence from Survey Data," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 136(3), pages 1325-1385.
    2. Sääksvuori, Lauri, 2013. "Voluntary formation of centralized sanctioning institutions," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 150-159.
    3. Jung, Yeonha, 2018. "How The Legacy of Slavery Has Survived: A Mechanism through Labor Market Institutions and Human Capital," SocArXiv snpg2, Center for Open Science.

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