Final answer:
The labor strikes during 1919 demonstrated an increased willingness among workers to use collective action to fight for better working conditions, wages, and recognition of their rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The labor strikes during 1919 indicated a significant shift in the relationship between labor and management in postwar America. Faced with poor working conditions, income inequality, and low wages, combined with an increased cost of living, workers were increasingly frustrated and began to demand better conditions.
When peaceful negotiations failed, labor unions saw striking as an effective means to achieve their goals. This era was marked by mass walkouts and several high-profile strikes, such as the Seattle General Strike, which highlighted the growing tension and potential for change in the balance of power between labor and capital.
The national anxiety was further compounded by political cartoons and public sentiment that associated labor strikes with the threat of Bolshevism, a reflection of the fear of socialist revolutions similar to what had happened in Russia. This period also set the stage for government interventions that acknowledged workers' rights while attempting to maintain order and stability. Post-WWI strikes thus demonstrated the increased willingness of the workforce to utilize collective action for better wages, hours, and working conditions, and signaled a heightened awareness of their political power. These events also foreshadowed the labor movements and policies that developed in subsequent decades.