Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Practice Exam

What was a primary focus of the Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin's activities?

1. Advocate for immigrant rights

2. Unify different labor unions

3. Support cooperation with manufacturers

4. Promote female leadership

The correct answer is: Support cooperation with manufacturers

The Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin were a labor organization primarily focused on supporting and promoting cooperation with manufacturers within the shoe industry. This organization aimed to foster better relationships between labor and management, believing that collaboration would lead to improved working conditions and fair compensation for workers. Their approach was characterized by an emphasis on negotiation and dialogue rather than direct confrontation, which was a key aspect of their activities. While the other options touch on important social and labor issues, they do not align as closely with the primary mission of the Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin. Advocacy for immigrant rights, unifying different labor unions, and promoting female leadership were relevant topics in the broader labor movement but were not the central focus of this particular group's efforts. The emphasis on cooperation with manufacturers highlights their strategic approach to labor relations during a time when the shoe industry was rapidly evolving and faced numerous challenges. This cooperative stance sought to address the needs of workers while also recognizing the constraints and objectives of manufacturers, setting a framework for potential progress in labor relations of the era.