dec 8, 1886 - AFL founded

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The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded by Samuel Gompers in Columbus, OH. It gradually became the largest labor union in the US, hitting 250,000 members by 1892, slow compared to the growth of the Knights of Labors' 800,000 in the mid-1880s. Compared to the Knights of Labor, the AFL was much more moderate. It did not organize as many strikes, and was only open to white middle-class workers from industries dominated by small businesses (eg printing, not oil). It also stressed cooperation between workers and corporations, rather than strikes and rebellion encouraged by the Knights. Likely because of this, the AFL saw much more success, and is still around to this day.

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