3. Unions late 19th century

Question 1

Knights of Labour (KOL)

1. founded?
2. successful strike?
3. lost influence?

Answer 1

1. 1869
2. against Wabash Railroad in 1885 = encouraged workers to join
3. following Haymarket affair of 1886

Question 2

American Federation of Labour (AFL)

1. what did it replace
2. what did it attempt
3. how many members by 1914

Answer 2

1. KOL
2. unite all unions
3. 2 million

Question 3

Industrial workers of the world

1. when set up?
2. reputation?
3. what did it attempt?
4. drawbacks?

Answer 3

1. 1905
2. violence and militancy
3. fight for rights of poorer workers and immigrants
4. violence = constantly under pressure from authorities

Question 4

what did increasing industrialisation result in

Answer 4

development and growth of a number of unions

most notably KOL and AFL

Question 5

KOL membership before and after successful strike against the Wasbash Railroad in 1885

1. 1881
2. 1886

Answer 5

1. 20,000

2. 700,000

Question 6

KOL membership

1. before violence of Haymarket affair in 1886
2. membership by 1890

Answer 6

1. 700,000

2. 100,000

Question 7

why was Industrial Workers of the World less effective

Answer 7

militancy and violence = disliked by employers

Question 8

membership of industrial workers of the world

Answer 8

100,000 members by 1923 but went in decline thereafter

Question 9

why is the membership of unions important

Answer 9

more membership = more influence / ability to exert pressure on employer

Question 10

what affected membership of unions other than unsuccessful strikes

Answer 10

divisions within workforce

Question 11

during this period why did white workers no longer enjoy a monopoly of the labour market

Answer 11

abolition of slavery/end of civil war = arrival of AA workers
often accepted lower rates of pay = white workers laid off and replaced with AA

Question 12

as well as influx of AA into available pool of workers there were new immigrants from

Answer 12

Europe and Asia

Question 13

why did unions not allow AA and immigrants to join

Answer 13

saw arrival as a challenge

Question 14

why was a divided workforce bad

Answer 14

easier for employers to exploit them

Question 15

what other 2 strikes weakened the progress in obtaining rights for workers (not the Haymarket affair)

Answer 15

Homestead strike of 1892

Pullman strike of 1894

Question 16

The Homestead strike of 1892

1. what did it result in?

Answer 16

1. bankrupted the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel workers

Question 17

The Homestead strike of 1892

2. how did it affect membership? 1881 vs 1909?

Answer 17

3. decline in union membership.
   24,000 in 1881
   6300 by 1909

Question 18

The Pullman Strike 1894

1. why did it develop

Answer 18

1. refusal of employers to recognise collective bargaining

shows difficulties unions faced in trying to gain recognition

Question 19

what was achieved by the outbreak of WW1 in 1914

2 things

Answer 19

1. union membership grown to 2 million members

2. unions had begun to put pressure on candidates in elections to support workers rights

Question 20

what factors suggest position of organised labour was no stronger by 1914 than in 1865
(5 things)

Answer 20

1. unions represented only 20% of work force (non-agricultural)
2. many industries still no unions (steel & car manufacturing)
3. many unions not legally recognised = lacked real power over decisions
4. workers divided by ethnicity, gender and level of skill (exploited by employers)
5. gains often limited to white, male, skilled workers.