Compare the goals and leadership of the Knights of Labor, AFL, and National Labor Union.

The National Labor Union, the Knights of Labor, and the American Federation of Labor were labor unions that worked to help workers. The National Labor Union, led by William Sylvis, wanted to pass laws that would create an eight-hour workday. The union also wanted to increase pay and improve working conditions. Its membership consisted of skilled and unskilled workers as well as farmers. However, African American workers weren’t allowed to join the union. The National Labor Union also was active politically. For example, it supported ending prison labor and wanted land reform laws.

The Knights of Labor, started by Uriah Stephens, included skilled and unskilled workers. Women and African Americans were allowed to join the Knights of Labor. This union also wanted to improve working conditions and raise the pay of workers. It also was involved in political issues such as ending child labor and advocating for immigration reform. Unfortunately, the Knights of Labor were blamed for the violence associated with the Haymarket Riot. This led to a drop in membership in the union.

The American Federation of Labor, led by Samuel Gompers, wanted to help workers. Its membership included only skilled workers. The union wanted to focus on issues of importance to workers such as improving working conditions and raising the pay of workers. The American Federation of Labor stayed away from most political issues and instead focused on helping workers. This union worked hard to avoid being viewed as a group that supported reforms that were considered radical for that period of time.

There were similarities and differences between each of these labor unions.

Compare the goals and leadership of the Knights of Labor, AFL, and National Labor Union.

The National Labor Union was the first organized labor movement in the U.S. It was led by one William Sylvis. The NLU's goal was to unite the various labor movements in the U.S. and create a national labor organization. The organization was largely responsible for the enactment of legislation creating the eight hour workday; however employers cut wages to compensate for the reduced hours, and worker's gains were minimal. Additionally, the NLU believed political activity was the key to reform, which did not appeal to many workers. It was unable to get its candidates elected, and most of its members deserted to join the Knights of Labor. 

The Knights of Labor were organized much like a fraternal lodge. They were known as the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor. They were not a true labor union, but rather sought to promote the culture of the working man. They were largely disorganized which prevented them from succeeding to any great extent. The Knights were founded by Uriah S. Stephens, but their primary leader was Terrence Powderly. Powderly attempted to convert the Knights into a true labor union rather than a fraternity. Because they were so loosely organized, their goals differed in different areas of the country. Their lack of organization caused a loss of interest and membership ultimately declined.

The American Federation of Labor was founded in 1886 by Samuel L. Gompers. It was quite successful and remains effective today. Gompers worked to bring disparate labor movements together and to work for immediate reform of local problems rather than long range goals. The AFL was largely successful as members of other unions under its umbrella would support striking workers by refusing to cooperate with the struck employer. A prime example is the picket line which no union person will cross, even if he/she is a member of another union.

Why did the Knights of Labor fail and the American Federation of Labor succeed?

It is incorrect to state that the Knights of Labor were a failure or to suggest that the American Federation of Labor was only modestly successful, as neither statement is true. To that extent, the above response is also incorrect.

The Knights of Labor were more properly known as the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor. It was organized by Uriah S. Stephens in 1869 and was modeled after the Masonic lodges; in fact it was designed to be semi-religious with secrets shared only by its members. The Knights led a number of successful strikes against the railroads which made them hugely popular, in fact their membership reached 700,000 by 1886. Thus it is hardly correct to suggest that the Knights were a failure. However, the association of the labor movement with anarchism following the assassination of Czar Alexander II made unions unpopular, and membership in the Knights declined.

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) is still in existence, and is a hugely effective advocate for workers. In the early twentieth century, it joined with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to form a united organization, the AFL-CIO.  The AFL was founded in 1886. It worked for immediate improvement of worker conditions rather than for long term political gains. Its founder, Samuel L. Gompers is said to have worked for:

bread and butter in the here and now rather than pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye.

The AFL did not eliminate unskilled workers as the above response suggests; but was more successful at organizing skilled workers beginning with the Cigar makers, a union of which Gompers was a member.

The truly radical organization which sought to organize all workers was the International Workmen of the World, commonly known as the "Wobblies." The Wobblies saw the AFL as too conservative. An IWW organizer, "Big Bill" Haywood, called Samuel Gompers

a conceited, petulant, and vindictive squat specimen of humanity,

They worked for a destruction of all government and the creation of a new classless society. The radicalism of their ideas made them very unpopular. The IWW led only one successful strike (compared to several for the Knights of Labor) and their association with Communism brought about their demise. Ultimately, Bill Haywood was forced to leave the country. He fled to Russia where he married and was buried in the Kremlin Wall as hero of the worker's revolution.

Why did the Knights of Labor fail and the American Federation of Labor succeed?

The Knights of Labor failed largely because they were too radical while the American Federation of Labor had some amount of success mostly because they were much more moderate.

The Knights of Labor were quite radical.  They wanted to abolish the capitalist system.  In addition, they represented both skilled and unskilled workers.  These things made the general public dislike them and gave them less leverage when bargaining with employers.

The AFL was more moderate, wanting only better working conditions and wages within the system.  They represented only skilled workers.  These things made them more acceptable to the general public and gave them more leverage over employers.

Why did the Knights of Labor and National Labor Union fail, but the AFL succeed?

The National Labor Union attempted to join all labor unions into one large umbrella union. It was initially successful in lobbying Congress to establish the eight hour work day; but this success soon backfired when employers cut wages. The NLU took the position that it could only advance its agenda through political reform. This was unsatisfactory to many workers who wanted immediate work reform, not slow government reform. Workers left the NLU en masse, most of whom joined the Knights of Labor described below.

The Knights of Labor, originally organized by Uriah S. Stevens, was initially successful. The Knights organization ultimately failed due to lack of organization and disagreement within its ranks. Strikes and walkouts began happening spontaneously without any previous organization, and most such strikes ultimately failed. The final blow to the Knights came during the Haymarket Affair when several people were killed. One of those arrested was an anarchist who had a Knights of Labor card. The Knights thus were labeled as anarchists, a taint from which they could not recover.  Members left in droves, many of whom joined the International Workmen of the World. The organization finally closed its doors in 1949, although it had been ineffective for many years previously.

The American Federation of Labor, organized by Samuel L. Gompers, was most successful because he attempted to work for immediate goals and reform, rather than long term political goals. He supposedly once said that he wanted "bread and butter in the here and now," not "pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye." Immediate goals made the AFL attractive and ultimately successful.