Samuel Gompers
Born in London, England during the winter January 27,1850 a brilliant man
was born. His name was Samuel Gompers, in his later year this man would become
the first man and long term president of the American Federation of Labor.
Gompers is the person the Labor Union should be tipping their hat to. This is
because he was the main person to create a structure for the union. As a child
Samuel grew up in a Jewish working class family, later emigrated to New York
City with his family in 1863. Samuel then began to make cigars in his home with
his father, eventually joining the Cigar Makers Union. After 1872 he officially
became a neutralized citizen. Due to being careful in the interests of labor he
gained a reputation as a conservative. But just as the United States was
beginning to look down upon labor organizations, Gompers contributed his ideas
of voluntary actions. This would allow the unions to go through strikes and
boycotts. Gompers then fostered the separation of different unions such as the
Cigar Makers union to achieve the creation of the AFL "American Federation of
Labor". Samuel believed that labor unions should fight better working
conditions and higher wages for all its employes. This left Samuel Gompers
remembered as a " pure and simple" man.
"Gompers, Samuel." TR Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
"Samuel
Gompers (American Labour Leader)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia
Britannica, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Terence Vincent Powderly
Terence Vincent Powderly was born January 22, 1849 in Carbondale,
Pennsylvania. He was born into a family of Catholic immigrants from Ireland.
Powderly was one of seven boys and four girl, can you say big family! At the
age of 13 Terence began working as a switchman at a local railroad, later
working in a machine shop. In 1871 he came part of the union of Machinists and
Blacksmiths, soon becoming their local president. By 1873 the Depression left
Terence out of a job, but one year later he joined the Knights of Labor.
Eventually becoming its leader shortly after, as the next twelve years moved
forward the union achieved its greatest influences and numerical strength.
Powderly also became the Mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He then began to
practice laws and later joined the Republican Party. From 1897- 1901 he also
served as a Commissioner General of immigration. However president Roosevelt did
not reappoint Terence a year later. Throughout Powderly's careers he highly
opposed work stoppages, but he found that striking brought unions increased
power. Later in he life he wrote a book known as "Thirty Years of Labor" and
memoirs "The Path I Trod". Terence continued to stay active in politics,
campaigning, and writing articles in Labor Journals.
"American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives."
Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Terence V. Powderly: Knights of Columbus Leader." Terence V. Powderly:
Knights of Columbus Leader. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
Mother JOnes
Mary Harris Jones was born on August 1,1837 in Cork, Ireland. She had two
sisters and two brothers. Jones adopted her date of birth changing it to May 1,
1830 to make herself appear older to suit her name Mother Jones. As a child her
father decided to move the family to Toronto, Canada to keep them safe, and
avoid any troubles with Ireland. Mary graduated school and began to train as a
teacher, having no intentions of later becoming labor activist. Yet her future
would hold something very bright. Eventually Mary became a dress maker which is
what she preferred. Jones then moved to Tennessee to continue teaching. She then
married and had four kids, but lost everyone to a yellow fever epidemic. Moving
back to Chicago she opened a seamstress shop, which later burned to the ground.
This is how she began to fight for the poor and laborers, she then joined the
Knights of Labor. Committing herself to struggles with wages and working
conditions. She took part in many strikes and became a organizer for United Mine
Workers. In 1912 a conspiracy ended up getting Mary locked up in jail for twenty
years. Mother Jones was known as the "most dangerous women in America", due to
the way she communicated and organize methods for laborers and working class
families.
"Mary Harris Jones (Mother Jones)." Frauen-BiographieForschung. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Second-industrial-revolution - Mother Jones."
Second-industrial-revolution - Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. Support EasyBib