Question

Which of the following statements BEST explains why the Knights of Labor ceased to exist, giving rise to the American Federation of Labor (AFL)?

A.The Knights of Labor segregated itself along racial and gender lines; the AFL willingly integrated along racial and gender lines.
B.The Knights of Labor limited its membership to skilled workers only; the AFL welcomed the more numerous general laborers.
C.The Knights of Labor focused on enacting broad social reforms; the AFL focused on specific issues such as increasing wages and overtime pay.
D.The Knights of Labor consisted of an older generation of trade unionists; the AFL appealed to a younger population of workers.

Answer 1

The Knights of Labor ceased to exist due to internal disputes and external factors, such as being linked to anarchist bombs at the Haymarket Square protest. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) rose as a result, focusing on specific issues like increasing wages and integrating both skilled and unskilled workers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Knights of Labor ceased to exist and gave rise to the American Federation of Labor (AFL) primarily because of internal disputes and external factors. One of the main reasons was that the Knights of Labor experienced tensions between skilled workers and unskilled workers, leading to internal disputes and resentment. Additionally, the Knights of Labor faced a setback when they were linked to anarchist bombs at the Haymarket Square protest, which resulted in public backlash and a decline in membership.

On the other hand, the AFL, founded by Samuel Gompers, focused on specific issues such as increasing wages and overtime pay. The AFL welcomed both skilled and unskilled workers, which allowed it to attract a larger base of general laborers. The AFL also adopted a strategy of collective bargaining and strikes to achieve its goals.