A significant labor organization of the late 19th century, this group advocated for a broad range of reforms to improve the lives of working people. Unlike craft unions, it welcomed skilled and unskilled laborers, as well as women and African Americans, into its ranks. Its ambitious goals included an eight-hour workday, the abolition of child labor, and the creation of worker cooperatives. For example, they actively campaigned for legislation regulating working conditions and championed the idea of “one big union” encompassing all workers.
Its rise reflected growing discontent with industrial working conditions and the widening gap between the wealthy and the working class. Its inclusive membership and radical agenda made it a powerful force in the labor movement, though its influence waned due to internal divisions and the Haymarket Square Riot. The organization’s efforts contributed significantly to the development of labor laws and the rise of other labor organizations, shaping the landscape of labor relations in the United States. Its efforts highlighted the potential for workers to unite across skill levels and backgrounds to achieve common goals.
