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How Did Samuel Gompers Influence The American Federation Of Labor

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A man often criticized by his contemporaries, Samuel Gompers was a poor immigrant who left school at the age of ten but grew up to become one of the most influential people in labor union history. One of the founders of the American Federation of Labor, Gompers was instrumental in creating America’s first nationwide labor union. Gompers was vice-president of the Cigar Makers’ International Union Local 144 and the first president of the American Federation of Labor, positions he both held until his death. As president, one of Samuel Gompers’ main goals was improving the everyday lives of workers. His objectives included raising wages, lowering hours, and improving working conditions.Despite receiving criticism from many, Gompers was determined in his goal of protecting the rights of laborers. A politically conservative man at heart, Samuel Gompers succeeded in bringing about change for workers by defending and upholding his beliefs, but also by cooperating with large …show more content…

There, he helped found the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (FOTLU), a loose alliance of unions that was later renamed and restructured into the American Federation of Labor. However, after Gompers assisted in organizing a failed campaign for an eight-hour workday, it quickly became clear to Gompers that a larger, stronger national organization of labor unions was needed in order to preserve the future of the labor movement. When the FOTLU met in 1886 for their annual convention, Gompers was instrumental in persuading the delegates to reorganize their confederation into the American Federation of Labor (AFL), a loose federation made up of multiple labor unions. He convinced the delegates that changes needed to be made. At the age of 37, Samuel Gompers was elected the first president of the newly created American Federation of

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