10.1 Knights of Labor Notes

Knights of Labor

Objectives

  • Describe how the Knights of Labor attempted to address the needs of many workers.

Working Conditions in Factories During the Second Industrial Revolution

  • Terrible conditions prevailed.
  • Long hours: 10-12 hours a day, six days a week.
  • Wages: Barely enough to support a family, even with multiple family members working.
  • Dangerous and often boring work.
  • Injuries resulted in termination.
  • Complaining could lead to being fired.
  • Immigrants were readily available to replace any worker.
  • Machines were valued more than people.
  • Factory owners prioritized profit margins over worker well-being.

Formation of Unions

  • Post-Civil War movement among workers to form and join unions.
  • National Labor Union (NLU)
    • Formed in 1866 by ironworker William H. Silvis.
    • Comprised of about 300 local groups in 13 states.
    • Silvis advocated for the inclusion of women and African Americans.
    • Carpenters and cabinetmakers agreed to open their locals to African Americans, but other locals refused, leading to the foundation of the Colored Labor Union.
    • Grew to over 640,000 members.
    • Achieved an eight-hour workday for government workers in 1868 through congressional legislation.
    • Expanded its power base and formed the Labor Reform Party, sponsoring a presidential candidate in the 1872 election.

Noble Order of the Knights of Labor

  • Founded in 1869 in Philadelphia.
  • Uriah Stevens, a tailor, was the leading force.
  • Motto: "An injury to one is the concern of all."
  • Open to all workers regardless of gender, race, or skill level.
  • Initially a secret organization with elaborate rituals due to fear of employer retaliation.
  • Supported an eight-hour workday and an end to trusts.
  • Growth was slow in the early years.

Terrence Powderly and Expansion

  • In 1879, Terrence Powderly, a mechanic from Scranton, Pennsylvania, became the leader.
  • Membership skyrocketed from 28,000 in 1880 to approximately 700,000 in 1886.
  • Powderly opened the Knights to immigrants, African Americans, women, and unskilled workers.
  • Believed the Knights could improve conditions for both workers and factory owners.
  • Philosophy focused on gaining public support rather than striking and antagonizing factory owners.
  • Advocated for rallies and meetings to raise awareness of factory workers' conditions.
  • Aimed to garner public support to pressure owners and management for better conditions.

Goals of the Knights of Labor

  • Shorter workday.
  • End to child labor.
  • Equal pay for men and women.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Strike (1885)

  • Knights of Labor unofficially supported a strike that shut down the Missouri Pacific Railroad in response to wage cuts.
  • Seen as a victory for the union, leading to significant membership growth, including approximately 60,000 African Americans.

Haymarket Riot (1886) and Decline

  • Strike at the McCormick Harvester Company in Chicago.
  • The Knights of Labor did not officially support the strike, but many members participated.
  • McCormick hired strikebreakers.
  • May 3, 1886: Clash between strikebreakers and workers outside the factory; police intervention resulted in four workers killed.
  • May 4, 1886: Protest rally at Haymarket Square in Chicago.
    • Anarchists led the rally.
    • A bomb exploded, killing seven policemen and injuring 60 policemen and several others.
    • Police responded by shooting into the crowd, wounding one hundred and killing others.
    • Eight anarchists were arrested, and four were executed despite a lack of direct evidence linking them to the explosion.
  • Devastating consequences for the Knights of Labor.
    • Membership dropped dramatically.
    • A strong anti-union sentiment emerged across the country.
    • Middle-class Americans began to view the labor movement as a group of terrorists.
    • The American Federation of Labor (AFL) began to increase as the Knights of Labor declined.

Aftermath of the Haymarket Riot

  • Albert Parsons, an anarchist, was found with a Knights of Labor membership card, reinforcing the perception that the Knights were responsible for the riot.
  • Membership in the Knights of Labor dwindled as workers disassociated themselves from the organization.

Mary Harris Jones (Mother Jones)

  • An organizer for the Knights of Labor.
  • Traveled the eastern part of the country, organizing rallies and strikes.
  • Focused on the coal miners of Virginia.
  • Exposed substandard living conditions in company housing.
    • Miners were forced to pay exorbitant prices for basic goods, e.g., 9abarrelforsugar9 a barrel for sugar, 18¢apointforfatpork18¢ a point for fat pork, and 8 to $10 a month rent for substandard housing where, during rain, beds had to be moved to find a dry spot.
  • Many miners worked their entire lives without ever handling cash.