The American Federation of Labor (AFL)
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was a powerful national union founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886 that transformed the American labor movement by focusing on practical, achievable goals rather than radical politics. Unlike earlier labor organizations, the AFL organized only skilled workers with specific trade expertise, giving members greater bargaining leverage over employers. This Grade 8 history topic from Pengi Social Studies covers how the AFL’s strategy of collective bargaining and targeted strikes slowly improved wages, shortened working hours, and established the model for modern labor unions.
Key Concepts
As corporations grew, individual workers lost power. To fight for better conditions, Samuel Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) . Unlike more radical groups, the AFL focused on practical goals: higher wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions.
The AFL was a union of Skilled Workers . By organizing only those with specific trade skills, they had more leverage in negotiations. They used strikes and collective bargaining to slowly improve the lives of their members, setting the model for modern labor unions.
Common Questions
What was the American Federation of Labor (AFL)?
The American Federation of Labor was a national federation of skilled trade unions founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886. Unlike more radical labor organizations, the AFL focused on practical goals—higher wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions—using collective bargaining and strikes rather than seeking to overthrow the capitalist system.
Who was Samuel Gompers?
Samuel Gompers was the founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. Born in London, Gompers immigrated to the US and became a cigar maker before rising to lead the AFL. He believed in ‘pure and simple’ unionism focused on concrete workplace improvements rather than political revolution.
How was the AFL different from other labor unions?
The AFL differed from broader labor organizations like the Knights of Labor by organizing only skilled craftsmen in specific trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and cigar makers. This exclusive membership gave AFL unions more bargaining power because their specialized skills were hard to replace with unskilled strikebreakers.
What strategies did the AFL use to improve workers’ conditions?
The AFL used collective bargaining, where union representatives negotiated directly with employers on behalf of all workers, as well as targeted strikes when negotiations failed. Gompers deliberately avoided violent tactics, believing that peaceful, legal action was more effective for achieving lasting improvements.
Why is the AFL important in Grade 8 Gilded Age history?
The AFL is important in Grade 8 history because it represents the successful adaptation of the labor movement after the failures and violence of groups like the Knights of Labor and events like the Haymarket Riot. Gompers’ pragmatic approach showed that organized workers could win concrete gains within the existing economic system.
Which textbook covers the AFL for 8th grade?
The American Federation of Labor is covered in Pengi Social Studies Grade 8, Chapter 8: Industrialization and the Changing West (1870–1900), where students analyze how workers organized to counter the power of industrialists during the Gilded Age.