Knights of Labor

The Labor Order Group began to play a role as a secret society for tailors in Philadelphia in 1869. The organization slowly developed during the difficult years of the 1870s, but after the Great Railroad strike in 1877, especially when the members of the Cavalier came, workers' battle efficiency rose to the end of the decade . Under his guidance, the Order prospered; by 1886 the group had 700,000 members. We abandoned the previous rules of confidentiality obligation and organized an 8 hour working day, eliminated child labor, equal salary for equal labor, and political reform including graduation income tax

Unlike most partners of the time, the union of the Order was organized vertically - each union contained all workers in a particular industry, regardless of trade. Cavaliers are also unusual in accepting workers of all skill levels and sexes; blacks are included since 1883 (although isolated locals). Meanwhile, like the many labor leaders at the time, the Order of Knights strongly supported the "China's Exclusion Law" in 1882 and the "Contracted Labor Law" in 1885. Competition of low-wage workers

Powderly believes in boycotting and arbitration, but he is against the strike. In 1884, Cavaliers greeted many new members to make the strike of Jay Gould 's Southwest Railway a success. By the beginning of 1886, there were 700,000 Labor Order Teams. However, when the workers attacked the Gould system again in the spring of 1886, they were severely hit. At the same time, with the General Strike occurred in Chicago on May 1, 1886, members of other Cavaliers again participated in powder campaign opposition campaign. When the bomb exploded at the workers' meeting of Haymarket Plaza on May 4, nationwide arrest and repression were caused, various labor activities declined and the Cavaliers committed a special crime. By 1890, the number of members decreased to 100,000. Powderly's somewhat unstable leadership and continuing factions within the union certainly contributed to the collapse of the Cavaliers, but the union's extensive suppression in the late 1880s was also an important factor.

A reader's companion to American history. Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, editor. Copyright © 1991 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publisher. Copyright

The history of the Order of the Labor Party began in 1869. At that time Uriah S. Stephens founded this secret tailoring organization in Philadelphia. The Labor Order began as a secret society to protect its members from retaliation by the employer. The secret and philosophy of the Brotherhood strongly appeals to its members and enhances their belief in their importance. The secret society was founded by Master Uriah St evens and has only eight original members. During this period of American history, members were fired immediately. This was a brave action. The Labor Party's Order was substituted for the failed Philadelphia Costume Association. Secret society has spread more than 80 provincial councils in its early history, but by 1875 society began to spread to other areas. Early Labor Orthodox developed rich ceremonies to host their conferences, as well as those performed by Freemason.

The Labor Order is the most important labor union at the end of the 19th century and the Trade Union Orchestra founded in 1869 is a secret society of Philadelphia clothing workers. When the dollar movement peaked in 1878, several knights served as representatives of the Greenback Labor Party Conference. Like Granger, the Cavaliers believe that ordinary people need to control the company they are in. They propose to build stores owned by employees and turn the United States into what they call collaborative communities. Along this extensive vision, regardless of race, gender, employment, the order is open to members - like other labor groups, the Cavaliers exclude Chinese immigrants.

Recognizing the new opportunities and risks brought about by the industrialization of the concept of BIg, how does it reform the American society?