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The Knights of Labor began as a secret society of tailors in Philadelphia in 1869. The organization grew slowly during the hard years of the 1870s, but worker militancy rose toward the end of the decade, especially after the great railroad strike of 1877, and the Knights' membership rose with it.
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Samuel Gompers founds the American Federation of Labor
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Strike by Pullman railroad workers halted by courts
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International Ladies' Garment Workers Union founded
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Strike by ILGWU wins pay gains, and shorter workdays!
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Fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory inNY kills 146, spurring action on workplace saftey.
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John L. Lewis becomes the president of the United Mine Workers by leading a successful strike.
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Hundreds of strikes sweep the nation, raising fears of revolution.
