nstructions: Case Study:

Question

The Knights of Labor

The Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor (KOL) was formed in 1869 in Philadelphia. Uriah S. Stephens and a handful of tailors created this union to organize skilled and unskilled workers in the same union. The Knights of Labor offered membership to workers regardless of gender or race. In the early years, it was a secret organization because many workers who were openly in unions were fired. They created elaborate secret rituals drawn from the Freemasons. By the early 1880s, they were a national force powerful enough to drop their secrecy.

The KOL had ambitious goals. Among these goals:

an eight-hour work day

end child labor

end the use of prison labor, which deprived other workers of jobs

equal pay for women

government ownership of railroads and telegraph lines

land policy that benefited settlers instead of speculators

a graduated income tax

Although the KOL initially opposed using strikes, they were common by the mid-1880s. The Knights won strikes against the Union Pacific Railroad in 1884 and the Wabash Railroad in 1885. But they failed to win the Missouri Pacific strike in 1886. That was the same year of the Haymarket Square Riot, during which a bomb exploded, killing several policemen. Soon the Knights’ demands appeared to go against the American system of government and economy. Opponents of the Knights became more vocal. Poor management, internal bickering, and feuds between skilled and unskilled workers eroded its support. By 1900, the Knights of Labor were virtually powerless, and other less radical unions became more popular.

The American Federation of Labor
Samuel Gompers had observed the Knights of Labor struggling. He knew that what workers wanted most were higher wages and improved working conditions. In 1886, Gompers met with leaders from the masons’ union, the hatmakers’ union, and other craft unions to form the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Unlike the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor did not seek to include unskilled workers. Gompers believed the union would have more power if it represented only skilled workers. It also used strikes to force improvements for workers.

Gompers recognized that support for the Knights of Labor had suffered because of the organization’s radical ideas. As a result, the American Federation of Labor pursued a more moderate course. It provided strike relief, or support, to striking workers so they could continue to provide for their families. Successful strikes helped improve workers’ wages and reduced the length of their workweek.

By 1900, as the Knights were declining, Gompers’ union had over 500,000 skilled tradespeople in its ranks. He was seen as the leader of labor, and until the Great Depression, the AFL was seen as the nation’s most important labor organization. The AFL benefitted from Gompers’ leadership and the realistic goals he set.

Now select the correct responses to the following questions about the case study.
Question 1(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
Which type of economic system was favored by small business owners?

controlled market
mixed economy
free market
planned economy
Question 2(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
Which type of economy is practiced in the United States today?

supply economy
mixed economy
market economy
planned economy
Question 3(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
Which of the following was used against unions?

the right to strike
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Fourteenth Amendment
the right to collectively bargain
Question 4(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
Which factor most greatly limited union growth at the end of the 19th century?

higher wages for all workers
popularity of Social Darwinism
hostility of business towards unions
improved working conditions
Question 5(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
In the economy of Nation A, natural laws of economics such as supply and demand completely control the economy with no interference from government. This is an example of a

mixed economy
market economy
planned economy
socialist economy
Question 6(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
What was one difference between the Knights of Labor (KOL) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL)?

The KOL admitted women and African Americans.
The KOL was larger than the AFL.
The AFL accepted unskilled workers
The AFL had a more radical approach
Question 7(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
How did the American Federation of Labor and the Knights of Labor view membership?

Both allowed unskilled workers to be members.
Neither allowed unskilled workers to be members.
Only the Knights of Labor allowed unskilled workers to be members.
Only the American Federation of Labor allowed unskilled workers to be members.
Question 8(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
What would have happened if both unions had survived into the 20th century?

Their power would be fractured because membership was split.
There would have been fewer strikes because the unions were so powerful.
An eight-hour workday and equal pay for women would have been realized.
Their power would expand because both unions had the same goals and methods.
Question 9(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
How might the Knights of Labor have developed if its members had admitted belonging to the union?

Development would have suffered because many of the workers would have been fired.
Business leaders would have been more supportive if the Knights had been less secretive.
The federal government would have been more supportive if the Knights had been less secretive.
Development would have improved because workers would see how popular the union had become.
Question 10(Multiple Choice Worth 5 points)
What can be concluded about the demise of the Knights of Labor?

They would have survived if they had been more radical.
They would have survived if they included unskilled workers.
The public wanted a more moderate approach to labor issues.
The public supported the eight-hour workday and equal pay for women.

Answer 1

Here are the correct responses to the questions based on the case study:

Question 1: Which type of economic system was favored by small business owners?
Answer: free market

Question 2: Which type of economy is practiced in the United States today?
Answer: mixed economy

Question 3: Which of the following was used against unions?
Answer: Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Question 4: Which factor most greatly limited union growth at the end of the 19th century?
Answer: hostility of business towards unions

Question 5: In the economy of Nation A, natural laws of economics such as supply and demand completely control the economy with no interference from government. This is an example of a
Answer: market economy

Question 6: What was one difference between the Knights of Labor (KOL) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL)?
Answer: The KOL admitted women and African Americans.

Question 7: How did the American Federation of Labor and the Knights of Labor view membership?
Answer: Only the Knights of Labor allowed unskilled workers to be members.

Question 8: What would have happened if both unions had survived into the 20th century?
Answer: Their power would be fractured because membership was split.

Question 9: How might the Knights of Labor have developed if its members had admitted belonging to the union?
Answer: Development would have suffered because many of the workers would have been fired.

Question 10: What can be concluded about the demise of the Knights of Labor?
Answer: The public wanted a more moderate approach to labor issues.