Which union was established in 1886 and focused on skilled workers' rights?

• A. Knights of Labor
• B. American Federation of Labor
• C. United Mine Workers
• D. Industrial Workers of the World

Answer: (B)

The American Federation of Labor (AFL), established in 1886, was specifically focused on the rights and interests of skilled workers. Unlike some other labor organizations of the time, the AFL sought to create a federation of different trade unions, each representing workers in specific skilled trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. The AFL emphasized collective bargaining and direct negotiations with employers to achieve better wages, hours, and working conditions. This focus on skilled workers allowed the AFL to secure significant achievements in labor rights during a time of rapid industrialization and worker exploitation in the Gilded Age.

In contrast, the Knights of Labor, founded earlier, aimed to unite all workers across trades and include both skilled and unskilled laborers, while the United Mine Workers and the Industrial Workers of the World were founded in later years and had broader or different focuses on specific workers' rights and industries.