Final answer:
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) aimed to increase wages, shorten the workweek, and implement closed shop practices. Through organized strikes, the AFL successfully established the 8-hour workday and increased pay, growing to over 2 million members by 1914.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Gilded Age, the American Federation of Labor (AFL), founded by Samuel Gompers, played a significant role as a labor union. The AFL's primary goals were to increase wages, shorten the workweek, and advocate for closed shops. Their strategy to achieve these goals was primarily through organized strikes. This labor union, focusing on skilled workers, had numerous successes which included establishing the 8-hour workday and increasing pay for its members. By 1914, the AFL reported having over 2 million members, indicating a notable growth in labor union membership during this period despite various challenges such as opposition from industrialists and the government.