Final answer:
Organized Labor during the Gilded Age strived to enhance workers' rights and working conditions, led by organizations such as the National Labor Union and the American Federation of Labor. They fought for, and in many cases achieved, significant reforms such as the eight-hour workday. These efforts demonstrated the potential of collective action in advocating for labor interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Gilded Age, Organized Labor attempted to improve conditions for factory and wage workers, who increasingly recognized the inequities they faced. One of the first collective efforts was the formation of the National Labor Union (NLU) in 1866, which aimed for an eight-hour workday among other reforms.
Samuel Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL), advocating for skilled workers with a focus on higher wages and shorter work weeks through collective bargaining and strikes. The AFL was instrumental in achieving the 8-hour workday and better pay for its members. Additionally, other groups such as the Knights of Labor desired a more utopian reordering of the economic system, though they did not gain wide acceptance of their philosophy.
The rise of such labor organizations showcased the agency of 'everyday people' to unionize for the betterment of their working conditions and wages, despite facing severe opposition, including blacklisting and animosity from management. Overall, the era was marked by the burgeoning of organized labor movements that laid the groundwork for future labor laws and reforms.