How did Labor Unions Impact the Daily Working Lives of Americans?

Question

This would be in the middle 1800's! Not todays time.

Answer 1

The first major labor organizations were founded in the 1870s, in the period immediately after the Civil War, as the railroads expanded and major industry was building.

The biggest early strike was in 1877.
http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html
http://www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/ibex/archive/vignettes/1877_rr_strike.htm

The first major labor cause of that period was the 8-hour day, which culminated in major general strikes in May 1886.
Haymarket Square was a direct result of the strikes of that week.
http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/haymarket.htm

Here is a site on labor history from the University of Pittsburgh you might find helpful
http://www.library.pitt.edu/labor_legacy/chronology.html

Labor didn't have any real major successes until around 1915, and even those were limited. It did not become a major political force until around 1930.