Question

The agrarian populist movement and some progressive labor unions, such as the American Railway Union (ARU) and the Knights of Labor (KoL), agreed that there was a need for economic and political reforms in the U.S. What were the key issues and reforms that they both saw as essential to creating a more fair and democratic society?

Answer 1

The key issues realted to economic and political reforms they had thought about to create a more fair and democratic society are as folows:

The Knights of labor, which was the first major labor union in USA, tried to organized all the laborers irrespective of unskilled and skilled, and they wanted a standard duration of working hours i.e. 8 hours in a day. Besides, they recommended a cooperative society where laboers could own the industries where they worked.

The union seeked to remove the disparity in terms of resource used between large business industries and individual enetity, so that the welfare level of workers could be improved. The union urged with owners of industries for higher wages, shorter working hours and better working conditions. Since till 1880 the US economy dominated by agriculture, and there occured a sharp change from agrarian economy to industrial economy after 1800s. Where lots of workers moved from agriculture sector to industry sector, and the role of government for promotion of industry was less and for promoting welfare of the laborers working at industry. Therefore, a political and economic reform was requied in US.

Like Knights of labor, American railway union whic is founded by Eugene V. Debs also asked for higher wages aginst the great northern railway. The union influenced by Marx's view and instead of industrial economy that is guided by captialist's viewpoint, they advocated a social and community base economic system. Whereas everyone has equal property and rights.