Samuel Gompers Accomplishments

Most knew him as a leader. At the center of a revolution he made his mark. The start of a change began slowly. Those around the world learned of the controversy. His accomplishment led to the presidency of a certain college.

He would be associated with this union for the next 18 years. By 1875 he had built a reputation as an outstanding citizen and was named the secretary of the Vigo County BLF, this would be his entry into the field of labor organization. During this time he was closely associated with the railroad workers and saw their consistent oppression by their capitalist employers. Despite this he was dedicated to maintaining a union comprised of sober outstanding laborers who could best serve their employers. By 1879 he was elected grand secretary of the BLF and editor of the magazine. In this role he gained crucial experience in labor organizing on a larger scale and elevated his status as a effective leader in the labor movement. During this time he saw consistent wage cuts forced on these upstanding citizens and workers which began to galvanize the idea within him that the corporations were not interested in the quality of labor of their employees. Instead they were interested in only creating a profit for themselves at any cost and reducing the value of a man to his work.

He went after every right in order to speak up for those slaves that didn’t have a voice. Education was one of his beliefs that helped him. Telling his story to the world, born a slave but now a free man. He fought for African Americans not are viewed as “property” or “slaves” but as equal to whites and must receive fair treatment.

He believed that the spoil system, or rotating office holders often was important. He fired everyone currently working at the white house, and he replaced them with people that were actively campaigning for the democratic

2). Cesar fought and became known for founding the National Farm Workers Association. He promoted the American labor movement whose purpose was to protest against the unfair farm labor treatment workers were receiving. Chavez accomplished something that seemed almost impossible for thousands who worked in the lands without using violence as a tool but rather unity (Koo-Byoung par. 7).

By teaching the ignorant mass opinions that there is different types of people in the world or not categorizing. He believed if prejudice were to be eliminated everyone would be forced to have the same beliefs or the same as the person in authority.

The final nominee in the 1912 Election was the Socialist Eugene Debs. Debs as a Socialist deeply cared for the needs of the worker and pledged to take the necessary steps to strengthen America’s working class. As a former Conventional Trade Unionist, Debs knew that reform was needed in order to change conditions for working Americans. “True socialists” however, differentiated themselves from “unionists” how sought for more industrial action than political action. Even though Roosevelt, Wilson and Debs seemed to express support to worker rights; each had his own position on the issue. Each advocated for different measures that would help the individual worker’s social needs as well financial needs. Taft, however, did not fully support the worker’s rights.

In 1875 Gompers and his friend Adolph Strasser founded the Cigar Makers International Union (CIU). He was elected president for three years until he helped form a new union, the Federation of Organized

Finally, when they were recognized by the government, for example the Supreme Court, they passed the Interstate Commerce Act; however this act was not enforced. Also this did not help out the primary cause for labor unions. Gomper's testimony (Document I), claims that workers find that improvements in methods of production and distribution are constantly being made. Workers, therefore, he argues need occasionally to strike or all advantages will go to the employers and all injuries to the employees. Rights, he says, have been gained by the people through sacrifices and persistency. Samuel Gomper was the founder of the American Federation of Labor. The AFL did survive the 19th century because it primarily included skilled workers. The AFL kept out of involvement in politics and built up strike funds, focusing on "bread and butter" issues. It survived the depression of 1893 (which was just ending when this testimony was given) when many other unions failed. The AFL also excluded most women, African Americans, unskilled workers and some immigrants. Gompers was one of the first American union leaders to focus on collective bargaining and the strike as a political weapon. Document D was another testimony, from a machinist. He goes on to explain how the conditions in factories have changed. Many jobs were

He was internationally recognized as an uncompromising abolitionist, indefatigable worker for justice and equal opportunity, and an unyielding defender of women's rights. He became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C., and Minister-General to the Republic of Haiti”.

These benefits were greatly needed as seen in the working conditions experienced by the Italian immigrants of this time. These groups were organized locally which also led to their downfall because of too much local power rather than a form of national leadership. The American Federation of Labor, founded in 1185, was unique in that it restricted its membership to only skilled workers and was also organized by trade instead of locality. For this reason it “became known as the “aristocracy” of labor” (Additional Links: The War between Capital and Labor). The Italian immigrants, for example, were not commonly found in the American Federation of Labor because they were unskilled and were not unionizing. President of the American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers believed in the power of the strike and most importantly the belief of the eight-hour workday. In Chicago, over one thousand people gathered at the West Randolph Street Haymarket, where people bought hay for their horses. Originally it was a peaceful gathering until someone threw a bomb into the crowd. The police responded by shooting into the crowd. An unknown number of demonstrators were killed or wounded. “Sixty police officers were injured and eight eventually died. Politicians and the press blamed radicals for the violence, although there was no evidence linking specific people to the bomb” (Lecture

Workers were paid as little as dollar or a dollar and twenty-five cents for working for twelve to sixteen hours a day. The low wages were so bad that many were starving. In document 3, Governor John P. Altgeld of Illinois wrote to George M. Pullman saying that “there are nearly six thousand people suffering for want of food- they were your employees” (document 3). However, workers who joined labor unions had their wages increased dramatically. In document 8, the President of American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers, said that those who joined labor unions had their “wages increased 70 percent in the past seven years” (document 8). Labor unions in the 1900s helped workers increase their low wages to not beg for food for

For example, one of his more famous works, “Compromise with the South”, not only granted himself fame but also supported the Republicans’ movement to have Lincoln re-elected (OSU Libraries). He also exposed the corruption found within Tammany Hall which was led by William Magear “Boss” Tweed (OSU Libraries). He revealed to the public the corruption created by industrialization and urbanization, relieving the ignorance of the lower class.

War and saved the Union and efforts to abolish slavery. He is the only one during his time to be a

During a chaotic time in history where a strong figure was desperately needed to change the status quo, Samuel Gompers emerged as a leader at the forefront of the labor movement.