Terence Powderly

There are numerous historical figures that can be discussed with reverence over the course of America's lifespan. While certain figures, such as Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy Jr. are constantly discussed, many of these important figures are often left out of conversations. It is important to remember all of the men and women who have contributed in significant ways in shaping the United States, so as to honor their legacies and remember where the country came from. This paper seeks to explore Terence V. Powderly, a Knights of Labor leader, and examine how his contributions aided America. 

Powderly was born to Irish immigrants in Pennsylvania; he swiftly began working at the tender age of 13 at the local railroad.   Powderly used this experience on the railroad to gain an apprenticeship at a local machine shop; after this he joined a Blacksmith Union, quickly rising up in rank.   In 1874, however, Powderly experienced one of his most significant milestones when he was asked to join the Knights of Labor.  

Powderly again quickly rose to high ranking in the Knights of Labor, where he took on a leadership position in Pennsylvania.  During his leadership under the Knights, he focused on finding a way to work with the law and other organizations with his unions; Powderly felt that it was rather dramatic and unnecessary to make frequent calls for labor strikes.   Powderly eventually rose all the way to become the Grand Master Workman within the organization.   

One of Powderly's main goals within his time with the Knights was to promote a decentralized approach to organizing.   However, his time with the Knights was not always easy, however. Powderly was at times the victim of bigotry due to religious and ethnic factions within the Knights. He was even forced to resign for a period during his tenure as Grand Master due to unrest with other members who were not Irish and/ or Catholic.   

However, Powderly's resignation was actually able to bring to light much of the bigotry that was occurring with the organization, and he was soon asked to rejoin.   He then solidified some of his most influential work within the organization, promoting non-violence in the union and labor sectors of Pennsylvania.   Whereas other labor and union groups frequently resorted to striking and violence, Powderly was able to navigate his group towards earning their demands in peaceful ways. This is certainly what sets him apart from so many other labor organizers of the time.

When strikes did occur, Powderly opted to find more constructive avenues to help union members and their families; this included raising money for those out of work.   Eventually, his work with the Knights allowed him to penetrate the world of politics. He became the mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania with the support of his labor connections in 1878.  

Powderly's work as a Mayor in Scranton was just as influential as his time with the Knights of Labor. He sought to create a city that could keep up with the modern changes the United States was a part of.   He quickly focused on such topics as creating a modern board that focused on city health initiatives, investigating reported and suspected cases of fraud in the city, initiated the implementation of a safe and sanitary sewage system, and set about getting the roads paved.   It was clear that Powderly cared very deeply about his city and wanted to create as much progress as he could within the city limits. This surely influenced other surrounding areas and helped Pennsylvania become one of the leading modern states in the U.S. during his lifetime.

Whether through his time as a blacksmith, in the Knights of Labor, or as a politician, Terence Powderly went to great lengths to better any organization he was apart of. It is clear that Powderly had a very large impact on the world of labor and unions first in Pennsylvania and then in the greater United States. His approach of non-violence and aptness to find non-disruptive ways aside from striking and violence to negotiate lead to his high ranking role in the Knights of Labor, and eventually led to a successful political career as Mayor. His modernization of the city of Scranton is a perfect example of how the United States eventually used technology to become the industrial nation it is today.

Bibliography

"Powderly, Terence." Social Welfare History Project. June 17, 2012. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/people/powderly-terrence/.

"Terence V. Powderly: Knights of Columbus Leader." U-S-History.com. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h934.html.