The Making of American Exceptionalism: The Knights of Labor and Class Formation in the Nineteenth CenturyWhy has the labor movement in the United States been so weak and politically conservative in comparison to movements in Western Europe? Kim Voss rejects traditional interpretations--theories of ?American exceptionalism?--which attribute this distinctiveness to inherent characteristics of American society. On the contrary, she demonstrates, the American labor movement had much in common with its English and French counterparts for most of the nineteenth century. Only with the collapse of the Knights of Labor, the largest American labor organization of the century, did the U.S. movement take a different path. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
WorkingClass Formation and | 1 |
PART | 17 |
Skilled and LessSkilled Work 18301880 | 46 |
Copyright | |
9 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Making of American Exceptionalism: The Knights of Labor and Class ... Kim Voss No preview available - 1993 |
Common terms and phrases
action activity addition American American labor analysis Annual Report argued argument artisans assemblies associations began British Bureau Cambridge Chapter City collapse collective comparative craft craft organization discussion early economic effect efforts employers encouraged England English established estimates ethnic example existence factory failure figures findings force formation France French History immigrants important included increased indicate industrial Jersey John Knights of Labor labor movement late leaders less less-skilled workers locals manufacturing measure membership Newark nineteenth century noted occupations Order organization organizational party percent period political presented production radical reasons republicanism role significant similar skilled and less-skilled skilled workers social society solidarity sources Statistics strategy strike suggests Table tended tion towns trade unions Trenton United University Press variables wage women working-class York