Issues of Freedom and Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Issues of Freedom and Power - Essay Example Economic freedom- Knights of labor Knights of labor, a major labor union during the 1860 hold a significant role in the evolution of economic rights in the United States. The formation of Knights of labor was the first efforts in the national labor organization because it was among the first labor unions to rally its members behind a goal. Nonetheless, the Knights of labor were a secret union characterized with less political pressure on its members. Uriah Stevens was the founder of the Knights of Labor, with many of his followers being Irish immigrant who were mainly Catholics. As a labor union, the Knights of labors enrolled members in various states to champion for improved rights of workers. Formed at a time when the United States repressed freedom of expression, the Knights of Labor worked in secrecy often recruiting its members using oaths and rituals. The main thrust of Knights of labor was to advocate for better economic reforms in their industries. At a time, when most of the immigrant received little pay and poor working conditions, the Knight of Labor became the ultimate vehicle to push for meaningful economic reforms. While the Knights of Labor avoided using industrial action, some of its members in states like Chicago were ready to strike. In 1886, about 80,000 people marched through Chicago supporting an eight-hour work shift. The long working hours were one of the main reasons that prompted the demonstration by members of Knight of Labor. This ignited confrontations between the Knights of Labor and the police who wanted to maintain law and order. In a social perspective, the Knight of Labor represented a growing awareness of rights among the workers. For instance, the call for an eight-hour work shift displayed a growing interest in social welfare among the workers.ii Most important, the meeting and demonstration among the workers guild indicated that rising level of social empowerment among the workers. Largely, the Knight of Labor has achieved many social gains because of its transformation from a secret labor to expressing its interest in various cities. Knight of Labor also championed for an end to child labor, a phenomenon that had characterized the American Labor environment. The political manifestation of 1960 would be incomplete without mention Knight of labor. Within the Knight Labor, there were some groups with interest to take control of the union. After leading a series of strikes, the government sentenced Albert Parson to death. This event made Lucy Parson seek ways of saving men that the government had convicted for deaths during strike. After visiting Europe in 1888, Lucy returned back American expressing new optimism in labor movements as she addressed workers and pressurized the state to create more projects in order to employ people. Political freedom (Progressivism- muckrakers and reform) The political freedom in the United States is a product of struggles that defined and helped create meaningful political reforms. With growing interest for political reforms, a group of Journalist joined hands to highlight on the wrongs of government through the literary works, which they published in magazines such as The Saturday Evening post McClure’