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The Noble Order of the Knights of Labor was the most ambitious and significant labor organization of the [[Gilded Age]]. As the charismatic leader of this group, Irish Catholic [[Terence Powderly]] was America's first nationally known labor leader, the first to achieve a high degree of recognition from working people, industrialists, and politicians across the continent. To most Americans, Powderly was the Knights of Labor.  

The Noble Order of the Knights of Labor was the most ambitious and significant labor organization of the [[Gilded Age]]. As the charismatic leader of this group, Irish Catholic [[Terence Powderly]] was America's first nationally known labor leader, the first to achieve a high degree of recognition from working people, industrialists, and politicians across the continent. To most Americans, Powderly was the Knights of Labor.  

==Organization==

==Organization==

The Knights local chapters, in contrast to later AFL-affiliated unions, was built like the fraternal lodge--a popular institution in Gilded Age America. The lodges stressed ritual, sociability, social reform, and self-improvement. The structure of the Knights, however, facilitated dissension within the organization, and a number of competing groups offered alternative memberships for defectors. The Knights had overarching grandiose objectives for the reform of society, and many disgruntled members migrated to organizations with more focused religious, political, social, or economic objectives, such as fraternal lodges, temperance groups, and mutual-benefit associations. The oath of secrecy and sympathy for socialism proved to be stumbling blocks for maintaining Catholic members, since the Catholic bishops were highly distrustful of secret orders.

The Knights local chapters, in contrast to later AFL-affiliated unions, was built like the fraternal lodge--a popular institution in Gilded Age America. The lodges stressed ritual, sociability, social reform, and self-improvement. The structure of the Knights, however, facilitated dissension within the organization, and a number of competing groups offered alternative memberships for defectors. The Knights had overarching grandiose objectives for the reform of society, and many disgruntled members migrated to organizations with more focused religious, political, social, or economic objectives, such as fraternal lodges, temperance groups, and mutual-benefit associations. The oath of secrecy and sympathy for socialism proved to be stumbling blocks for maintaining Catholic members, since the Catholic bishops were highly distrustful of secret orders.  The Knights ended secrecy in 1882 and were generally welcomed by the bishops. Most leaders were Catholics.

Under the leadership of Powderly, the Knights championed a variety of causes, sometimes through political or [[cooperative]] ventures.  Powderly hoped to achieve their ends through politics and education rather than through economic coercion. They were willing to form political coalitions with farmers, radicals, and prohibitionists, but rarely won office beyond local city elections. They did induce many states to form bureaus of labor statistics to collect nonpartisan information on the condition of workers.

Under the leadership of Powderly, the Knights championed a variety of causes, sometimes through political or [[cooperative]] ventures.  Powderly hoped to achieve their ends through politics and education rather than through economic coercion. They were willing to form political coalitions with farmers, radicals, and prohibitionists, but rarely won office beyond local city elections. They did induce many states to form bureaus of labor statistics to collect nonpartisan information on the condition of workers.

==Strikes==

==Strikes==

In 1883 the Knights greatly increased its membership after successful battles against railroad tycoon [[Jay Gould]]. But after 1886 skilled workers, became reluctant to join the Knights, because the Knights encouraged both skilled and unskilled laborers to join. The skilled workers, with years and decades of training, wanted more control of the workplace and did not wish to sharet heir gains with unskilled workers who came and left.  The skilled workers much preferred the unions affiliated with the AFL (American Federation of Labor), which focused solely on labor issues and actions important to the skilled white men.  

In 1883 the Knights greatly increased its membership after successful battles against railroad tycoon [[Jay Gould]]. But after 1886 skilled workers, became reluctant to join the Knights, because the Knights encouraged both skilled and unskilled laborers to join. The skilled workers, with years and decades of training, wanted more control of the workplace and did not wish to shared their gains with unskilled workers who came and left.  The skilled workers much preferred the unions affiliated with the AFL (American Federation of Labor), which focused solely on labor issues and actions important to the skilled white men.  

By the late 1880s the big strikes launhced by the Knights had failed. The movement collapsed in the wake of the [[Haymarket Riot]] of 1886, when their message was confused with that of bomb-making [[anarchism|anarchists]].  The Knights were replaced by the [[AFL|American federation of Labor]], which still exists.

By the late 1880s the big strikes launched by the Knights had failed. The movement lost momentum in the wake of the [[Haymarket Riot]] of 1886, when their message was confused with that of bomb-making [[anarchism|anarchists]].  The Knights faded away and were were replaced by the [[AFL|American federation of Labor]], which still exists.

==Racism==

==Racism==