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Difficulty: EasyLabor Movements and Gilded Age Conflict

"The trade unions are the natural growth of natural laws... The trade union is the association of the wage-earners, by the wage-earners, for the wage-earners, to protect their rights and advance their interests as skilled workers."
— Samuel Gompers, "Organized Labor in the United States," 1892

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best describes the primary strategy of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) under Samuel Gompers during the late nineteenth century?

  1. Organizing skilled craft workers to secure direct improvements in wages and working hoursAnswer
  2. B
    Forming a political alliance with rural farmers to advocate for the free coinage of silver
  3. C
    Supporting federal laissez-faire policies to ensure the government did not interfere in labor strikes
  4. D
    Advocating for the Dawes Act to divide corporate-owned lands and distribute them to factory workers

Answer

Organizing skilled craft workers to secure direct improvements in wages and working hours
The correct answer is correct because the American Federation of Labor (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers, focused on organizing skilled craft workers to achieve practical, everyday economic goals (often called 'bread and butter' unionism) rather than broader political or social reforms.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus and author to identify the organization's core goals.
The excerpt is by Samuel Gompers, leader of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and specifically references protecting the interests of 'skilled workers.'
Identifying the author and organization helps connect the source to their specific Gilded Age strategies.
2
Differentiate the AFL's strategy from other contemporary labor and political movements.
The AFL focused on 'bread and butter' issues (wages, hours) for skilled craft unionists, rather than recruiting unskilled laborers, pursuing agrarian currency reform, or supporting government laissez-faire.
This step eliminates incorrect choices that describe the Populists, the Knights of Labor, or misconceptions about government laissez-faire.
3
Match the identified AFL goals to the correct option.
The option stating that the AFL organized skilled craft workers for improvements in wages and hours aligns with the historical record and the text.
This confirms the correct option based on the analysis.

Key Concept

Labor Movements and Gilded Age Conflict
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Topics

Labor Movements and Gilded Age Conflict

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