American Federation of Labor and Knights of Labor

By: Jacob Geller Eric Wertheim

Knights of Labor: Founded

• It was founded in 1869.• It was founded by Frank Foster.• It was founded after the Civil War because of

bad working conditions.• They picked up where the National Labor

Union left off.• It was made up of trades and industries.

Ideals

• In 1882 they began advocating for workers rights publicly.

• They were characterized by their lofty ideals and goals.

• Such As:– Higher wages– Shorter work days– Better working conditions

They were characterized by their lofty ideals and goals.Motto: ‘An injury for one is an injury for all”

Members

• In 1886 they had 750,000 members.• African Americans and women were allowed

in the organization.• The AFL stole many of their members.

American Federation of Labor: Founded

• It was founded by Samuel Gompers.• It was founded in 1886.• Gompers held the position for 38 years.• It was a combination of national craft unions.• It was an “aristocracy” of labor.

Ideals• They had limited goals to what was

achievable.• They fought for: better wages, shorter hours,

working conditions, right of collective bargaining, job ownership, immigration curbs, relief from technological unemployment, labor legislation, collaboration with members and creation of a union work place for its members.

Gompers

• “Of the working people, for the working people, by the working people.” Samuel Gompers to McClure’s Magazine

• He opposed radicals and theorists.

Members

• In 1901 they had 1 million members• In 1917 they had 2.5 million members.• In 1924 they had 3 million members.• They became their own political party.