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The Knights of Labor.
1869
Uriah S. Stephens
Knights of Labor
the knights of labor
As in any developing country, labor and employing companies always had their differences. The Knights of Labor group was the first well recognized labor union and it was all inclusive, meaning almost anybody (women, blacks and but not Chinese) was welcomed. I think the Chinese were admitted at a later date. After the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed, the Knights of Labor fell out of favor and disappeared. The major difference was the Knights of Labor formed the foundation upon which the AFL was born. Their demise was a natural evolution of the labor movement in this country. The Knights of Labor lacked good management and their inability to carry out successful strikes for their members caused their ranks to be recruited by the AFL.
As in any developing country, labor and employing companies always had their differences. The Knights of Labor group was the first well recognized labor union and it was all inclusive, meaning almost anybody (women, blacks and but not Chinese) was welcomed. I think the Chinese were admitted at a later date. After the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed, the Knights of Labor fell out of favor and disappeared. The major difference was the Knights of Labor formed the foundation upon which the AFL was born. Their demise was a natural evolution of the labor movement in this country. The Knights of Labor lacked good management and their inability to carry out successful strikes for their members caused their ranks to be recruited by the AFL.
The Knights of Labor
In 1869, a group of tailors, led by Uriah P. Stephens, formed the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor. They spread their message in secret, organizing workers of different jobs but not getting political. In 1879, Stephens was replaced by Terence V. Powderly, and the Knights became a labor powerhouse. The Knights continued to grow until the infamous Haymarket Square tragedy was unfairly blamed on the Knights, by business owners and officials.
As in any developing country, labor and employing companies always had their differences. The Knights of Labor group was the first well recognized labor union and it was all inclusive, meaning almost anybody (women, blacks and but not Chinese) was welcomed. I think the Chinese were admitted at a later date. After the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed, the Knights of Labor fell out of favor and disappeared. The major difference was the Knights of Labor formed the foundation upon which the AFL was born. Their demise was a natural evolution of the labor movement in this country. The Knights of Labor lacked good management and their inability to carry out successful strikes for their members caused their ranks to be recruited by the AFL.
Because of such fierce opposition from big business, much of the later labor union activity was carried on in secret. Such was the case in the organization of the first relatively permanent national labor union, the Knights of Labor, organized in 1869 in Philadelphia. Headed by Uriah S. Stephens, the union admitted all workers, regardless of skill, race, or position. The Knights of Labor sought to educate public opinion about the true situation of labor, avoiding the label given them by corporations as troublemakers being driven by greed. Who formed the first relatively permanent labor union, the Knights of Labor? Stephens
What "The Knights of Labor" were most interested in is open to interpretation. It depends solely upon what an individual perceives as the true motivation and ultimate goal of the Knights of Labor. Essentially, it was a National Union. Factoid** As the organization splintered and fell into obscurity one group formed what is now the AFL-CIO. The Knights of Labor was more interested in broad reform.