Study Notes on the Labor Movement (1865-1897)

The late nineteenth century was characterized by significant changes in the economic and social structure of American society.
- Employers gained the ideological sympathy of community members, leading to a shift in alliances that left workers needing to rely on their own power.
- As the industrial landscape evolved, workers needed to create organizations to defend their place in society, leading to the formation of national trade unions that pooled strength effectively.

The labor movement was influenced by the organizations created by employers, prompting workers to organize for their defense.
By the late 1890s, it was evident that security for industrial workers rested on national trade unions instead of local craft organizations.
- The national organizations were essential for surviving strikes against regional and national employers.

The history of labor organization before 1865 included local unions formed in the 1790s by printers, shoemakers, and carpenters.
A shift occurred due to industrialization, as local unions became ineffective against larger regional employers.

There was a fundamental question: Should workers aim to destroy the system or to adapt within it?
The older interpretation by labor historians, notably John R. Commons and Selig Perlman, described trade unions as an organic response of workers to their status as employees.
- Trade unions were seen as economic organizations aligned with workers' values, focusing on job security, wages, and working conditions.
- Reform organizations, viewed as utopian and misguided, were criticized for being led by middle-class reformers disconnected from labor realities.

The NLU, founded in 1866 in Baltimore, aimed to give labor a national voice and address social issues, such as women’s rights, black workers' rights, the eight-hour workday, and monetary reform.
- Historians like Norman Ware argue that as the NLU became mired in broader social reform, it caused trade unions to disengage.
- By 1872, the NLU had endorsed a national Labor Reform party but struggled with coherence, being described by Ware as being overtaken by various uncoordinated elements.

Historian David Montgomery offers a different interpretation, emphasizing the commitment of workers to broader republican social ideals.
- He suggested that workers saw legal equality as insufficient, requiring real social and economic power.
- Different forms of organization, including trade unions and socialist parties, arose from the same labor constituency.

The Knights of Labor originated in 1869 and transformed from a craft union to a national organization post-1878.
- It was inclusive, aiming to recruit all trades and emphasizing principles of solidarity and mutual aid, reflective of republican ideology.
- The Knights' ambition included radical changes to the industrial order; they framed existing industrial systems as problematic.
- Their motto: "an injury to one is a concern for all."

The Knights peaked during the Great Upheaval of 1886 with a rapid growth to 750,000 members but faced internal difficulties and external pressures that led to its decline.
- Terence Powderly’s leadership faced scrutiny as he focused on education but neglected immediate worker grievances during strikes.

Founded in 1881 as a response to the Knights, the AFL grew significantly under Samuel Gompers' leadership.
- It accepted industrial capitalism and negotiated with employers without disrupting the capitalist order, unlike the previous knights' approach.
- The AFL practiced “business unionism,” focusing on job security over broader social changes.

The trade unions aimed to provide stability, negotiation for higher wages, and job security but faced inherent challenges, such as limited membership and financial instability due to economic fluctuations.
Historians note that the craft unions' historical narratives often focus on their most successful periods, masking the original vulnerabilities and struggles faced during their formative years.

By 1897, the AFL showed signs of survival during tough economic times but lacked the financial means to back its strikes fully.
The overall performance of labor organizations led to questions about their future effectiveness compared to their historical successes.

The portrayal of labor unions evolving through a political lens has perpetuated misconceptions about their historical actions and relationships with political parties.