The National Labor Union: Post-Civil War Era

In the period of 1870-1900, labor unions and organizations were rarely successful in achieving their goals primarily because of problems with being able to organize large numbers of American Workers. The rare victories for labor were isolated incidents because there were no labor organizations on a national or even state-wide basis. The problems with organization arose because of five major factors - differences in union leadership, divisions between skilled and unskilled workers, ethnic and racial tensions, and employer, and government and public hostility.

Knights of Labor is a national labor organization with a broad reform platform reached peak membership in the 1800s . In 1869 - Another labor group of national had emerged . The failure of the railroad striked in 1886 . Knights also declined because its leaders spent more time promoting national reforms than focusing on better wages . American Federation of labor is founded in 1886 of trade unions made up ofskilled workers . Differences between the knights of labor and the American federation of labor is that the knights of labor was more radical , in 1879 Terrence Powderly led the knights and Samuel led the afl

This site stood out more than the others due to the popularity and creditability of the History channel. With the rise of large corporations, the workers needed a fighting force to defend their rights. Even though in the end the Knights of Labor were eradicated, they laid the foundation for the modernized union. The History Channel’s website “The Knights of Labor,” praises the ambitions of this union as a great organization in history. The Knights of Labor started off as a small group of tailors in Philadelphia in 1869.

Industrial workers rebelled to industrialization by forming labor unions. The Knights of labor was a union group the formed in 1869. The Knights of Labor accepted all producers, including women and African-Americans. The Constitution of The Knights of Labor states, “To secure the toilers a proper share of the wealth that they create; more of the leisure that rightfully belongs to them…”

The National Labor Union was the first labor federation in the united states and it paved the pathway for the Nights of Labor and the AFL. The National Labor Union was led by William H. Sylvis and was in response to unsuccessful efforts to form a national coalition of local trade unions. The National Labor Union wanted instead to bring together all of the national labor organizations, as well as the "eight-hour leagues" which pressed for the eight-hour day, to create a national federation that could call for labor reforms and help found national unions in those areas where none existed. The NLU was made mostly up of construction unions and other groups of skilled employees, but also invited the unskilled and farmers to join. However, they

During the Progressive Era of the Gilded Age, many laborers were being mistreated by the companies that they worked for. Because of this, workers started forming labor unions or organized association of workers, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. Many of these labor unions failed, while few of them achieved their goals and still exist today. Many factors contributed to the failure of these labor unions. The labor unions were given a bad image, the reason for this was the media, and they did this by publishing articles depicting the unions as violent, communist groups. The government supported big business during this time, since the government had a lot of power; this was a huge setback in the labor unions’ battles.

Knights of Labor were one of the first major unions. The union boasted a large membership

During the 19th century workers were dealing with the changed that came with the industrial era. Companies were adapting with the new technology and replacing skilled workers with new machinery. Skilled Workers were losing their jobs to unskilled working immigrants, women, and children because employers would pay them less. Also workers would worked ten hours a day and were still not able to have enough money to live a decent life . Apart from not being paid enough workers also had to work in dangerous work condition and the risk of loosing their job due boom and bust cycle. Workers did not want to work in these conditions and to fight for what they believe in labor unions were formed. One of the labor unions formed was the knights of labor

During the 1880s, that division fatally eroded. Despite its labor reform rhetoric, the Knights of Labor attracted large numbers of workers hoping to improve their immediate conditions. As the Knights carried on strikes and organized along industrial lines, the threatened national trade unions demanded that the group confine itself to its professed labor reform purposes; when it refused, they joined in December 1886 to form the American Federation of Labor

The labor union movement over the years has shaped the way individuals work and live for both the nicest and unpleasant. Some would think the unions influence has created a power struggle between management and union leaders. In today’s time, some citizens insist the existence of unions are a must to aid in employee freedom, while others view the labor unions as just another problem in the line of progress. The purpose of labor unions was for employed workers to come together and collectively agree on fundamental workplace objectives. The rise of the union came about after the Civil War- responding to the industrial economy. Surprisingly at the least unions became popular within the 1930-50’s and began to slowly decrease,

The American Federation of Labor was successfully able to negotiate wage increases for its members and enhance workplace safety for all workers. American Federation of Labor was more successful than the Knights of Labor because they used new organizational methods to manage the combined attack of employers and government authorities. American Federation of Labor would also secure the loyalty of its 1.4 million members by providing sickness, unemployment, and strike benefits, and burial insurance. American Federation of Labor emphasized higher wages, shorter working hours, and better working conditions. Employers continued to resist the union’s negotiations by employing immigrants that they could give lower wages to and attempting to speed up labor processes with new forms of organization. The unions within the American Federation of Labor knew that if they had more control of the labor market they would have the power. So the unions decided that limiting the number of available workers would keep their wages high. In 1892, the supervisor of the Carnegie Steel’s huge homestead complex, locked out his employees and said he would operate the plant with nonunion workers. In retaliation the workers surrounded the plant, the supervisor called in 300 armed Pinkerton guards which cause a 24 hour battle outside the plant. The supervisor requested the state

Many labor unions fought for better working hours and better working conditions, but it was more than that it was a fight for basic human rights. Humans are meant to be treated with respect and sympathy. People would work twelve hours a day and seven days a week in order to obtain the money to sufficiently support their own family. Americans started to realize the cruel working hours and conditions, so many labor unions were formed to protest for better wages, hours, and working conditions. Unions like the National Labor Union, Knights of Labor, and many other strikes were formed to protest against these inhumane conditions.

During this time pay was low and working conditions were very bad. People were working in factories for large companies. These issues combined to make many workers unhappy with their position in life. They wanted a much better deal for themselves and they thought that unions were a good way to achieve that. It was in this way, industrialization led to the rise of labor unions.

During the time period 1875 to 1900, the labor unions failed miserably in their efforts to amend the working conditions their workers were under. During the 19th century, the Second Industrial Revolution and The Gilded Age were taking place. These were transmuting the way society was viewed and how people lived their everyday lives. During the labor movement, there were many different organizations and groups that advocated change. Two of those specific groups were the Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor. The failure of those labor unions between 1875 and 1900 in the U.S. was mostly due to the union's actions, followed by problems within the unions, and people's response to the union.

Labor unions started to form in the late 18th century; though it was during the 20th century that they began to grow. Unions fought for improved