What were the knights of labor and what were their goals?
In 1869, a group of tailors, led by Uriah P. Stephens, formed the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor. They spread their message in secret, organizing workers of different jobs but not getting political. They realized that labor organizers and labor members would be fired by employers, so the Knights remained a secret organization as long as it could. The Knights differed from the then most notable of unions, the National Labor Union, in that they accepted Blacks and women and unskilled workers. In 1879, Stephens was replaced by Terence V. Powderly, and the Knights became a labor powerhouse. The Knights continued to grow until the infamous Haymarket Square tragedy was unfairly blamed on the Knights, by business owners and officials.
