"Strikes are, in the main, failures. They do not accomplish the end desired... We must teach our members that the strike is a two-edged sword, which is as likely to injure the user as the opponent. We should instead advocate for the arbitration of differences between employers and employed, and the establishment of cooperative institutions that will eventually replace the wage system."
—Terence V. Powderly, Grand Master Workman of the Knights of Labor, 1889
Based on the excerpt, which of the following strategies did the Knights of Labor advocate to achieve their goals?
- AEncouraging the federal government to maintain strict laissez-faire policies
- BOrganizing urban labor unions to support the agrarian political platform of the Populist Party
- Resolving disputes through arbitration and establishing worker-owned cooperativesAnswer
- DAdvocating for the federal protection of tribal sovereignty under the Dawes Act
Answer
Resolving disputes through arbitration and establishing worker-owned cooperatives
The correct answer is correct because Terence V. Powderly explicitly advises against strikes and instead promotes 'arbitration of differences' and the establishment of 'cooperative institutions' to reform the Gilded Age labor system.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Knights of Labor strategies and philosophy in the Gilded Age
Estimated Time:45s