Officially known as the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, the Knights of Labor began as a secret society in 1869. In 1881 they became public and wanted to include all workers into their labor union.
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The Knights of Labor went on strikes to try to accomplish their goals. Although they won several strikes for the eight hour workday, in 1886 they failed half the May day strikes. The Haymarket Square episode which is explained in the video to the right caused the end of the Knights of Labor because people associated them with the bombing at the Haymarket Square. Strikes after the incident were unsuccessful. Another contributing factor to the end of the Knights of Labor was they included skilled and unskilled workers. When skilled workers left to the American Federation of Labor, the unskilled workers were mostly in the Knights of Labor which could be easily replaced by companies with other people. The Knights of Labor did help push towards an eight hour workday for the future.
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