Differentiate Between The AFL And The Kind Of Unionism

The Knights of Labor was the first major American labor union created around 1871. It was configured by all productive laborers from the factories to fields, whose leader was Terence V. Powderly. Their goals were to adopt a system that could which will secure the labor job and involve the government to protecting the workers. In addition they were fighting to obtain 8 hour work day, graduated income tax, cooperatives.

The labor union titled Noble and Holy Order of Knights of Labor, or Knights of Labor, was

Three unions that are similar & different. The Knights of Labor was a powerful labor union in the United States in the nineteenth century which was founded by Uriah Stephens in 1886 and was also lead by Stephens but then Stephens got replaced by Terence Powderly. American Federation of Labor was started by Samuel Gompers in the mid-1800s the AFL had came into place after the The KOL had begun to fall. Industrial Workers of the World came up in the late 1800s their key leader was “Big Bill” Haywood. The similar things between the three were they wanted the best for workers and had a group that was made of workers.

The National Labor Union (NLU), the Knights of Labor, and then the American Federation of Labor (AFL) all strived for a better workers’ condition. Specifically, Samuel Gompers, the founder of AFL, demanded “a reduction of the hours of labor,” “adequate wages,” etc. (Doc G) The labor unions took actions against the relentless business owners: the Railroad Strike, the Homestead Strike, and the Pullman Strike were examples that attempted to ameliorate working conditions by refusing to work. Similarly, the southern and western farmers formed organizations that asked for legislations that would benefit them.

The Knights of Labor held a notion that, “there was a conflict of interest between the wage system of labor as well as the republic system of government. The Knights believed that the government should be determined by the people/average citizen while the production should be determined by workers. By doing this they felt that they could restore independence to the American citizens.” (Rosenzweig 95-96). Due to drastic wage cuts that came with the economic downturn of the early 1880’s this group was able to grow rapidly with their victories against two of the country’s most powerful railroads.

Unlike the Knights of Labor, the AFL only accepted white males who were skilled workers in similar trades into their ranks. Their focus was on economic gains including better wages, hours and working conditions; not over social reform or non-skilled workers plight. By using boycotts, strikes and collective bargaining the organization was able to win shorter working hours and better pay for its skilled workers. Gompers continued with these methods through out his reign, believing that by having a group of unions with only skilled laborers, he could have more influence by excluding the unskilled ones. He saw the higher wages earned by skilled individuals and wanted to capture their wealth and influence in with the AFLs own

The members of both the guilds and unions knew that their fellow workers would stick up for them and support them. For example some of the issues were that they were underpaid or treated unfairly. It’s like the saying “All for one, and one for all!” There are also some differences between the two though. For example the UMWA have more political influence then the earlier guild had.

As mentioned in the book, “any person could join except bankers, lawyers, and liquor dealers, and join they did. Its local assemblies enrolled everyone, including shoemakers, laundry workers, carpenters, seamstresses, musicians, clerks, domestics, machinists, and homemakers” (Postel 120). The union promoted a number of causes, such as improved working conditions, increased pay, and an eight-hour workweek. In addition, the Knights of Labor promoted political and social reforms such the abolition of child labor, the creation of worker cooperatives, and the nationalization of important sectors of the economy. They held that labor exploitation was a major contributor to social injustice and inequality and that the interests of workers and those of society were strongly correlated.

The AF of L wanted “unionism” and opposed socialism. TheKnights of Labor, another labor union, was created in 1869 and enlisted in their ranks not only alllaborers but also everyone who could be truly classified as a producer. Labor unions, the two major depressions and the three “robber barons” were three of theforemost reasons the Gilded Age got its name. The “robber barons” invested in things that wouldultimately lead to a “Golden Industrial Age” but they didn’t achieve it totally legitimately, and thecreation of the labor unions sided with the workers, but at times, grew violent in their methods.

The Knights of Labor, founded by Terence Powderly and Uriah Stephens in 1869, helped create a union contract with Carnegie’s Braddock Mill. While the Knights of Labor were trying to have broad social reform around the country, they created a lockout in the Braddock Mill. Workers like Kratcha did not care as much about the union’s goals, instead they wanted the mills to be open so that they could earn money (25). Large business owners, like Carnegie, tried, and usually succeed, at breaking strikes and unions in their mills. In Homestead and Braddock, Kratcha experienced the effects of strikes, and they were not positive.

The topic of Labor Unions has been the focus of many political debates in recent years, with these discussions having people advocate for and against the unions. Labor Unions are an organization that represent a collective group of employees to protect and further theirs rights and interests. Labor Unions were first introduced in the eighteenth century with increasing numbers around the United States and the world, but unfortunately during the past decade these numbers have drastically decreased, resulting in less education and achievement of solidarity among employees. Solidarity is the unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest. Workers in the United States would benefit more through labor

The AFL was established in in 1886 led by Samuel Gompers. Many members of this group were former members of Kings of Labor. At first the AFL only allowed skilled workers to join the group. The organization’s membership rose greatly during World War I, since the government gave multiple concessions to workers and unions. Since the United States was engaged in the war, the government wanted to avoid strikes, so by stepping in on behalf of workers with their employers, the government believed they could do so.

The work of Samuel Gompers acted as a catalyst to the dawning of the Progressive Era. Gompers’ revolutionary union work advocated for social justice and regulation within factories. HIs work with expanding the rights of workers through factory regulation and organized unions was continued even after his death by the organization her started in 1886. The American Federation of Labor outlasted even the Knights of Labor, and today is still a well respected organization. The American Federation of Labor grew from 50,000 members in 1886, to nearly 3 million members in 1924.

Farmers and Industrial Workers in the Gilded Age In a time when industrialization was booming, immigrants were racing towards the “American Dream”, and cities were growing towards the sky, the United States was thriving. As a country, the United States went from rural, to mostly urban, which made America “the world’s largest industrial power” as stated by John Green. Since the U.S. had become mostly urban, this left the very few rural workers (farmers), and even some of the industrial workers unhappy. This period of industrialization is called the Gilded Age than spans from 1865 to 1900.The farmers and industrial workers responded to the Gilded Age in significantly negative ways including unions against their authority, strikes and political

The AFL advocated for most of the same things as the Knights of Labor. The American Federation of Labor used strikes and boycotts against owners to try and get what they wanted. Two major strikes that occurred were the Pullman Strike and the Homestead Strike. Both strikes were very dangerous and had millions of dollars of damage. Some of the strikes and boycotts did work and wages were raised, however some backfired and many workers ended up losing their