dec 1, 1869 - Knights of Labor Founded

Description:

-Was originally founded as a secret organization
-However, under the leadership of Terence V. Powderly, the group became public in 1881
-Accepted both skilled and unskilled workers, men, women, African Americans
-Wanted equal female pay, the end to child/convict labor, employer-employee relations, proportional income tax
-Supported "bread and butter" unionism (higher wages, shorter hours, better conditions)
-Worked to replace wage system with a cooperative system where employees could control part of the company
-Quite loosely organized and originally a secret organization: eventually led to events like the Haymarket massacre

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