Compare and Contrast the National Labor Union, Knights of Labor

question 27

Essay

Compare and contrast the National Labor Union, Knights of Labor, and American Federation of Labor in regard to their origins, goals, organizing strategies, and leadership. Account for the failure of the first two and for the success of the AFL. What might have made a difference in making the Knights of Labor a successful labor union in the long-term?

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Definitions:

Balance Sheets

Financial statements that summarize a company's financial position, including assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a specific point in time.

Swaps

Financial agreements to exchange or "swap" cash flows or other financial instruments between two parties, typically involving interest rates, currencies, or commodities.

Index Futures

Financial contracts to buy or sell a financial index at a predetermined future date and price.

Short Position

An investment strategy where an investor sells a security that he does not own at the time of sale, typically borrowing it, and hopes to buy it back later at a lower price.