The American Federation of Labor,
consisting of mostly craftsmen, was not so friendly to women and blacks. There
was not so much room for department store workers and domestic servants, whom
the Knights had organized. Skilled and well paid workers that were more interested
in in winning a larger share in the corporate rewards constituted the American Federation
of Labor. Knights on the other hand were of the opinion that ordinary people should
have control over the enterprises in which they worked, and therefore
recommended that shops owned by employees should be set up, thereby transforming
America into a “cooperative commonwealth”. They called for the government to endorse
more greenback dollars and increase the amount of money in circulation.
The accomplishments of the three labor organizations varied.
The Greenback Party, active between 1874 and 1889, had candidates in three presidential
elections but failed to win, and they declined when they failed to win any House
seats in the election of 1884. The Knights of Labor became one of the largest
labor organizations in the 1880’s, but charges of violence alleged links to
Freemasonry caused their decline too. The American Federation of Labor is a
story of success, politically and throughout the labor movement to this day.
In Athens only adult males with military training could vote and they voted for everything unlike in us citizens age 18 and above can vote and in US the people elect representivites to represents them.
