American Federation Of Labor Apush

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) in APUSH: A Deep Dive into Labor History

The American Federation of Labor (AFL), a pivotal force in American history, played a significant role in shaping the nation's labor landscape and holds a prominent place in APUSH (Advanced Placement United States History) curricula. Understanding its rise, strategies, successes, and limitations is crucial for comprehending the complex social and economic changes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This article delves into the AFL's history, examining its impact on American society and its enduring legacy. We'll explore its key figures, organizational structure, tactics, and ultimate impact on the American worker and the nation's political landscape.

Introduction: The Birth of a Labor Giant

The late 19th century witnessed the rapid industrialization of the United States, leading to unprecedented economic growth but also to harsh working conditions for millions of laborers. Long hours, low wages, unsafe workplaces, and child labor were commonplace. Existing labor organizations struggled to address these challenges, often hampered by internal divisions and ineffective strategies. This fertile ground for discontent led to the formation of the American Federation of Labor in 1886, a pivotal moment in American labor history. Unlike its predecessors, the AFL, under the pragmatic leadership of Samuel Gompers, adopted a more practical and focused approach to achieving workers' rights.

Samuel Gompers and the AFL's Pragmatic Approach

Samuel Gompers, a cigar maker by trade and a skilled organizer, became the AFL's first president and remained at its helm for nearly four decades. His leadership defined the AFL's character. Gompers eschewed utopian ideals and revolutionary rhetoric, instead focusing on achievable, bread-and-butter issues that directly impacted workers' lives. This pragmatic approach proved highly effective in building a powerful and enduring labor organization. He prioritized collective bargaining, focusing on improving wages, reducing working hours, and improving working conditions through negotiations with employers, rather than through large-scale strikes or revolutionary action. This "business unionism" philosophy was a key to the AFL's success.

AFL's Organizational Structure and Membership

The AFL was structured as a federation of craft unions, each representing skilled workers in specific trades, such as carpenters, machinists, and printers. This structure allowed for a degree of autonomy for individual unions while providing the collective strength of a larger organization. This focus on skilled labor was a deliberate strategy. Gompers believed that skilled workers had more bargaining power and were less easily replaceable than unskilled laborers. This decision, while effective in the short term, also excluded a large segment of the workforce, notably unskilled and immigrant laborers, from the AFL’s protection. This exclusivity became a significant criticism of the AFL throughout its history.

Membership in the AFL grew steadily throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting its success in improving workers' lives. However, its membership remained predominantly white and male, reflecting the societal biases of the time. The AFL’s relative exclusion of women and minority workers would later contribute to the rise of other, more inclusive labor organizations.

Key Strategies and Tactics: Collective Bargaining and Strikes

The AFL’s primary strategy was collective bargaining. This involved negotiating with employers on behalf of its members to secure better wages, shorter working hours, and improved working conditions. While Gompers preferred negotiation, the AFL wasn't averse to using strikes as a last resort to achieve its goals. These strikes, however, were generally well-organized and targeted, focusing on specific demands and employing strategic tactics to maximize their impact. The AFL understood the importance of public opinion and strategically used publicity to garner support for their causes.

Several significant strikes during this period demonstrated the AFL's power and influence. The Pullman Strike of 1894, though not directly orchestrated by the AFL, highlighted the growing power of organized labor and the potential for widespread labor unrest. This strike, while ultimately unsuccessful, underscored the limitations of the AFL's power against powerful industrialists and the government’s willingness to intervene on behalf of business.

AFL and the Political Landscape: Gradual Influence

While the AFL focused primarily on economic gains through collective bargaining, it also recognized the importance of political action. The AFL did not form its own political party, instead choosing to endorse candidates who supported labor's interests and lobby for legislation favorable to workers. This pragmatic approach allowed the AFL to influence the political landscape without becoming entangled in partisan politics. This strategy allowed them to exert influence across various political parties, maximizing their impact. However, their political influence remained relatively limited until the early 20th century.

The AFL and the Progressive Era

The Progressive Era (roughly 1890s-1920s) saw increased government regulation of businesses and growing public support for labor reforms. The AFL capitalized on this shift in public sentiment, advocating for legislation to address issues such as child labor, workplace safety, and the eight-hour workday. The passage of key legislation during this period, although often limited in scope, reflected the growing political influence of the AFL and the broader labor movement.

Challenges and Criticisms: Exclusivity and Internal Divisions

Despite its successes, the AFL faced significant challenges and criticisms. Its focus on skilled, white male workers excluded a large segment of the American workforce. This exclusivity fueled internal divisions within the labor movement and limited the AFL’s overall impact. The rise of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a more radical and inclusive labor organization, posed a direct challenge to the AFL's dominance. The IWW's embrace of unskilled workers and its more revolutionary tactics presented a contrasting vision of labor activism.

Furthermore, the AFL struggled to maintain unity amongst its diverse membership. Conflicts between different craft unions and disagreements over strategy occasionally hampered the organization’s effectiveness.

The Decline of the AFL and the Rise of the CIO

By the 1930s, the AFL's dominance in the labor movement began to wane. The Great Depression exacerbated existing social and economic tensions, leading to a surge in labor activism. The formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1935 marked a significant turning point. The CIO, unlike the AFL, embraced industrial unionism, organizing workers across entire industries rather than by specific crafts. This strategy proved highly successful in mobilizing the large numbers of unskilled and semi-skilled workers previously excluded by the AFL. The CIO's success, combined with internal divisions within the AFL, eventually led to a schism in the American labor movement, with both organizations competing for members and influence.

The AFL-CIO Merger and Lasting Legacy

Following decades of competition and rivalry, the AFL and CIO finally merged in 1955, forming the AFL-CIO. This merger signaled a renewed focus on unity and collective action within the American labor movement. While the merger brought together many unions, the internal tensions and diverse approaches to labor activism remained. The legacy of the AFL, however, is undeniable. Its focus on collective bargaining, its strategic use of strikes, and its gradual entry into the political realm significantly impacted the American working class and continues to shape labor relations today. The AFL's emphasis on pragmatic, achievable goals, while criticized for its exclusivity, established a model for labor organization that influenced subsequent labor movements.

Conclusion: A Lasting Impact on American History

The American Federation of Labor played a critical role in shaping the American labor movement and influencing the nation’s social and economic development. From its humble beginnings as a coalition of skilled craft unions to its eventual merger with the CIO, the AFL’s story is a testament to the power of collective action and the enduring struggle for workers' rights. Its pragmatic approach, while occasionally criticized for its exclusivity, proved effective in achieving significant gains for its members. The AFL’s legacy continues to resonate in contemporary labor relations and its story remains a crucial component in the study of American history. Understanding its strategies, successes, and limitations provides valuable insights into the complexities of industrialization, labor relations, and the ongoing evolution of the American worker's experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What was the main difference between the AFL and the Knights of Labor?

A: The Knights of Labor was a broader, more inclusive organization that welcomed both skilled and unskilled workers, as well as women and minorities. The AFL, in contrast, focused primarily on skilled craft workers and adopted a more pragmatic, business-oriented approach.

Q: What were some of the major legislative successes of the AFL?

A: While the AFL didn't achieve sweeping legislative victories in its early years, its lobbying efforts contributed to the passage of legislation addressing workplace safety, child labor, and the eight-hour workday, particularly during the Progressive Era. These victories, while incremental, signaled a shift in public opinion and government regulation favoring labor.

Q: How did the AFL's approach differ from that of the IWW?

A: The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) was a far more radical organization than the AFL. It embraced revolutionary tactics and advocated for a complete overthrow of the capitalist system, whereas the AFL focused on achievable, bread-and-butter gains through collective bargaining and political action within the existing system.

Q: Why did the AFL initially exclude unskilled and minority workers?

A: The AFL's initial focus on skilled workers was a strategic decision. Gompers believed that skilled workers possessed greater bargaining power due to their specialized skills and were less easily replaced by employers. This decision, however, also reflected the prevailing societal biases of the time that marginalized unskilled and minority workers.

Q: What was the significance of the AFL-CIO merger?

A: The 1955 merger of the AFL and CIO ended decades of rivalry and competition within the American labor movement. It brought together a broader range of unions, representing a larger segment of the American workforce, and symbolized a renewed effort toward unity and collective action within the labor movement. However, the merger did not fully erase the philosophical and strategic differences that existed between the two organizations.