Knights of Labor

The Knights of Labor was a labor union founded in secrecy in December 1869, by a group of Philadelphia tailors led by Uriah S. Stephens. Originally called 'The Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor', it was designed to protect all who worked for a living. Labor Day can be traced to two Knights' parades in New York City in 1882 and 1884.

In decline

There was widespread repression of labor unions in the late 1880s. In addition, the Knights were unsuccessful in the Missouri Pacific strike in 1886. Violence among strikers, including the Haymarket Riot, and intensified disputes between the skilled trade unionists, also known as craft unionists, and the industrial unionists weakened the organization. The Knights lost many craft unionists in 1886 when the American Federation of Labor was founded.

Related Topics:
1886 - Haymarket Riot - Craft unionists - Industrial unionists - American Federation of Labor

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Membership declined with the additional problems of an autocratic structure, mismanagement, and further unsuccessful strikes. By 1890, it had less than 100,000 members. By 1900, it was virtually nonexistent.

Related Topics:
1890 - 1900

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