Final answer:
Trade and labor unions formed in Britain and the United States to represent workers and advocate for their rights, with similarities and differences in their histories.
Step-by-step explanation:
In both Britain and the United States, trade and labor unions formed to represent workers and advocate for their rights in dealing with management. However, there are some differences in their histories. In Britain, trade unions were at the forefront of change, with the formation of the Trades Union Congress in 1866 and the legalization of their existence in 1871. In the United States, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was established in 1886 and initially only allowed skilled White male workers to join.
One similarity between the histories of trade unions in both countries is the focus on improving wages, hours, and working conditions. Both British and American unions aimed to establish an eight-hour workday and went on strikes when their demands were not met. Another similarity is the resistance faced by unions from employers and authorities. In both countries, striking workers could face police intervention or imprisonment.