History of the labor movement in the United States : Volume II: From the founding of the American Federation of Labor to the emergence of American imperialism / By Philip S. Foner.

This is the second volume of the History of the Labor Movement in the United States series. It is preceded by the first volume. From the Colonial Times to the Founding of the American Federation of Labor; and succeeded by the second volume: The Policies and Practices of the American Federation of Labor, 1900-1909

This text includes tables containing information regarding the percentage of Populist votes by state.

This resource includes a key for abbreviations used in footnotes and reference notes.

This book includes biographical summaries of individuals mentioned in the second volume of this publication.

Includes biographical references (pages 440-474) and index.

1. The industrial scene -- 2. The socialist movement in the eighties -- 3. Rise of the Knights of Labor -- 4. The K. of L. [Knights of Labor] and labor solidarity -- 5. Policies and leadership of the knights -- 6. The federation, Labor Day, and May Day -- 7. Haymarket -- 8. The political upheaval -- 9. The American Federation of Labor -- 10. The decline of labor parties -- 11. The decline of the K. of L. -- 12. The formative years of the A. F. of L. [American Federation of Labor] -- 13. Early A. F. of L. -- 14. The Homestead Strike -- 15. Coal Creek and Cour D'alene -- 16. The economic crisis of 1893 -- 17. The railroad brotherhoods and the American Railway Union -- 18. The Pullman Strike -- 19. The socialists and the labor movement, 1890-1896 -- 20. Labor and early populism -- 21. The rise of labor populism -- 22. Labor-populism and the election of 1896 -- 23. The A. F. of L. and labor solidarity -- 24. Labor and the trusts -- 25. Labor and socialism, 1897-1901 -- 26. Labor and the Spanish-American War -- 27. Labor and imperialism.

"The present volume carries the story from 1881 to the close of the nineteenth century. While the scope is small in comparison with that covered by the preceding volume, the issues and events discussed are of great importance for an understanding of the emergence of the modern labor movement. The volume covers the two decades which set the mold and the outlook of organized labor for many years to come. These years marked the rise and decline of the Knights of Labor, the early development of the American Federation of Labor, the formation of the Socialist Party, and the rise and decline of Populism, the growth of monopoly capitalism and the emergence of American imperialism." -- from the preface

"Here is a full-scale account of the American labor movement during two of the most significant and exciting decades of its history. Based largely on hitherto unpublished sources, including the vast manuscript collections of the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, the records of trade unions, the labor press, and most recent research in the period covered...After surveying the industrial scene in the 1880's, Dr. Foner examines the rise and decline of the Knights of Labor, the founding and early development of the American Federation of Labor, the idelogy and activities of the Socialist movement, the formations and achievements of independent labor parties, the stirring and heroic story of great strike struggles, and labor's day-to-day battles for higher wages, shorter hours and better working conditions. Special attention is given to the contributions of Negro workers, women workers, and foreign-born workers to the development of the labor movement. The leaders of the period--including Samuel Gompers, Eugene V. Debs, Terence V. Powderly, Daniel DeLeon, Peter J. McGuire, P. M. Arthur, John Mitchell--are discussed in detail..." -- from the dust jacket

This resource contains dated racial terms that may be offensive today.