Final answer:
Samuel Gompers was instrumental in advancing the labor-union movement by founding the AFL, promoting better wages and working conditions for skilled workers, and championing the use of strikes to achieve labor goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Samuel Gompers played a pivotal role in the labor-union movement by founding the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and leading it from its inception in 1886 until his death in 1924, with only a brief interruption. He sought to unify skilled workers through the AFL, advocating for better wages, working conditions, and the establishment of an eight-hour workday. Gompers also believed in using strikes as a tactic to achieve these goals, though he preferred peaceful negotiation when possible.
Under Gompers's leadership, the AFL grew to over 2 million members by 1914, successfully pushing for significant improvements in workers' lives. His efforts were influential during wartime when the federal government recognized the importance of labor and invited Gompers to the negotiating table, where he further solidified his power base and worked for the betterment of labor unions.