Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Practice Exam

Which organization primarily focused on the workers of the shoe industry?

1. Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin

2. American Federation of Labor

3. United Farm Workers

4. Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor

The correct answer is: Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin

The Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin is the correct choice because this organization was specifically established in the late 19th century to address the needs and rights of workers in the shoe industry. It represented a significant effort by shoemakers and sought to improve working conditions, wages, and job security for those involved in the production of footwear. This organization became a prominent voice for shoeworkers, advocating for their interests during a time when labor issues were increasingly coming to the forefront of social and economic discourse. In contrast, the American Federation of Labor was a broader national federation of labor unions that represented various trades and industries, not limited to a single sector like the shoe industry. The United Farm Workers primarily focused on the rights of agricultural workers, and the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor aimed for a more inclusive labor movement that encompassed many different industries rather than concentrating on a specific field like shoemaking. These other organizations, while important in their own right, did not have the same specific focus on the shoe industry as the Knights and Daughters of St. Crispin.