Changes

Gompers promoted harmony among the different craft unions that comprised the AFL. Focused on higher wages and job security, the AFL fought against socialism and the Socialist party. After 1907 it formed alliances with the [[U.S. Democratic Party, History|Democratic party]] at the local, state and national levels. The AFL enthusiastically supported the war effort in World War I, and saw rapid growth in union membership and wage rates.  

Gompers promoted harmony among the different craft unions that comprised the AFL. Focused on higher wages and job security, the AFL fought against socialism and the Socialist party, as well as the radical anti-capitalist union, [[IWW]]. After 1907 it formed alliances with the [[Democratic party]] at the local, state and national levels. The AFL enthusiastically supported the war effort in World War I, and saw rapid growth in union membership and wage rates.  

The AFL strenuously opposed unrestricted immigration from Europe because it lowered wages, and opposed any immigration at all from Asia for the previous reason and also because it brought an alien culture. The AFL was instrumental in passing immigration restriction laws from the 1890s to the 1920s, and seeing that they were strictly enforced. As Mink shows, the link between the AFL and the Democratic Party rested in large part on immigration issues; the owners of large corporations wanted more immigration and thus supported the [[U.S. Republican Party, history|Republican party]].<ref> Gwendolyn Mink. ''Old labor and new immigrants in American political development: union, party, and state, 1875-1920.'' (1986).</ref>

The AFL strenuously opposed unrestricted immigration from Europe because it lowered wages, and opposed any immigration at all from Asia for the previous reason and also because it brought an alien culture. The AFL was instrumental in passing immigration restriction laws from the 1890s to the 1920s, and seeing that they were strictly enforced. As Mink shows, the link between the AFL and the Democratic Party rested in large part on immigration issues; the owners of large corporations wanted more immigration and thus supported the [[U.S. Republican Party, history|Republican party]].<ref> Gwendolyn Mink. ''Old labor and new immigrants in American political development: union, party, and state, 1875-1920.'' (1986).</ref>

The AFL was always hostile to Communists, especially as they were powerful inside the rival CIO. The AFL boycotted the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), formed in 1945, because of it for its decision to admit Soviet trade unions. Attacking them as creatures of the Soviet state, the AFL was instrumental in establishing a rival federation, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which eventually won the allegiance of all labor federations save those of the Soviet Union and its satellites. The AFL hailed the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administration's [[Cold War]] policies and strongly supported American military intervention in the [[Korean War]]. Corruption in labor unions became a major political issues in the 1950s. Meany convinced the AFL expel the racketeer-influenced International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) in 1953, and several other corrupt affiliates, most notably the Teamsters union, several years later.  

The AFL was always hostile to Communists, especially as they were powerful inside the rival CIO. The AFL boycotted the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), formed in 1945, because of it for its decision to admit Soviet trade unions. Attacking them as creatures of the Soviet state, the AFL was instrumental in establishing a rival federation, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which eventually won the allegiance of all labor federations save those of the Soviet Union and its satellites. The AFL hailed the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administration's [[Cold War]] policies and strongly supported American military intervention in the [[Korean War]]. Corruption in labor unions became a major political issues in the 1950s. Meany convinced the AFL expel the racketeer-influenced International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) in 1953, and several other corrupt affiliates, most notably the Teamsters union, several years later.  

After years of bitter rivalry the two re-united in 1955 as the [[AFL-CIO]].  Another split took place in 2006, as the AFL-CIO steadily lost membership and influence in the private sector.  However it has gained in strength with the public sector unions, and continues to be an influential force for liberal policies inside the [[U.S. Democratic Party, History|Democratic party]].

After years of bitter rivalry the two re-united in 1955 as the [[AFL-CIO]].  Another split took place in 2006, as the AFL-CIO steadily lost membership and influence in the private sector.  However it has gained in strength with the public sector unions, and continues to be an influential force for liberal policies inside the [[Democratic party]].

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Browne, Waldo Ralph. ''What's what in the Labor Movement: A Dictionary of Labor Affairs and Labor'' (1921) 577pp; encyclopedia of labor terms, organizations and history. [http://books.google.com/books?id=epc3AAAAMAAJ&dq=subject:%22Working+class%22+date:1910-2007&num=100&as_brr=1 complete text online]

* Browne, Waldo Ralph. ''What's what in the Labor Movement: A Dictionary of Labor Affairs and Labor'' (1921) 577pp; encyclopedia of labor terms, organizations and history. [http://books.google.com/books?id=epc3AAAAMAAJ&dq=subject:%22Working+class%22+date:1910-2007&num=100&as_brr=1 complete text online]

* Commons, John R. ''History of Labour in the United States'' - vol 1 and Vol. 2 1860-1896 (1918) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=22784998 vol 2 online edition]

* Commons, John R. ''History of Labour in the United States'' - vol 1 and Vol. 2 1860-1896 (1918) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=22784998 vol 2 online edition]

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Foster Rhea Dulles. ''Labor in America: A History'' (2004), textbook  

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Foster Rhea Dulles. ''Labor in America: A History'' (2004), textbook  

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Warren Van Tine, eds. ''Labor Leaders in America'' (1987) biographies of key leaders, written by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Leaders-America-Working-American-History/dp/0252013433/ref=sr_1_12/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194848493&sr=1-12 excerpt and text search]

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Warren Van Tine, eds. ''Labor Leaders in America'' (1987) biographies of key leaders, written by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Leaders-America-Working-American-History/dp/0252013433/ref=sr_1_12/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194848493&sr=1-12 excerpt and text search]

* Mink, Gwendolyn. ''Old Labor and New Immigrants in American Political Development: Union, Party, and State, 1875-1920'' (1986)

* Mink, Gwendolyn. ''Old Labor and New Immigrants in American Political Development: Union, Party, and State, 1875-1920'' (1986)

* Morris, James Oliver. ''Conflict Within the AFL: A Study of Craft Versus Industrial Unionism, 1901-1938,'' 1958 - 319 pages

* Morris, James Oliver. ''Conflict Within the AFL: A Study of Craft Versus Industrial Unionism, 1901-1938,'' 1958 - 319 pages

* Perlman, Selig. ''A History of Trade Unionism in the United States'' 1922 - 313 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=3NYJAAAAIAAJ&printsec=toc&dq=%22american+federation+of+labor%22&as_brr=1&sig=feOVr0PoLQ2WmgUEIYd9F8P66UU online edition]

* Perlman, Selig. ''A History of Trade Unionism in the United States'' 1922 - 313 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=3NYJAAAAIAAJ&printsec=toc&dq=%22american+federation+of+labor%22&as_brr=1&sig=feOVr0PoLQ2WmgUEIYd9F8P66UU online edition]

* Zieger, Robert H.,  and Gilbert J. Gall, ''American Workers, American Unions: The Twentieth Century''(3rd ed. 2002) [http://www.amazon.com/American-Workers-Unions-Twentieth-Century/dp/080187078X/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/103-4827826-5463040 excerpt and text search]  

* Zieger, Robert H.,  and Gilbert J. Gall, ''American Workers, American Unions: The Twentieth Century''(3rd ed. 2002) [http://www.amazon.com/American-Workers-Unions-Twentieth-Century/dp/080187078X/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/103-4827826-5463040 excerpt and text search]