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Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor
Garment cutters in Philadelphia founded a trade union known as the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor. At the time, employers could fire workers who joined labor organizations. For this reason, the Knights met secretly and used special handshakes to identify one another. -
Financial Panic of 1873
After a financial panic in 1873, many companies cut costs by forcing workers to take pay cuts. In some cases, they fired workers. Unions responded with strikes that sparked violence. -
Railroad Strike
In July 1877, angry railroad strikers in several locations burned rail yards, ripped up track, and destroyed property. Railroad companies hired strikebreakers to replace the striking workers. -
The Formation of the AFL
In 1886 a group of national trade unions joined together to form the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The AFL represented workers in a large number of trades and crafts. -
Women in the Workforce
By 1900 more than 1 million women had joined the workforce. Women generally earned about half of what men did.
