During the Long Depression of 1873-1878, the Knights of Labor emerged as a potent force for workers in the United States.

[3] Following a failed 107-day cigar-makers' strike in 1877, Gompers assisted President Adolph Strasser in radically restructuring the Cigar Makers' International Union (CMIU) in 1879.

A union bank would be established to provide short-term loans for workers who had been laid off and were seeking new jobs.

[11] Gompers led his committee to propose that FOTLU restrict its membership to skilled craft unions, excluding unskilled workers and political labor organizations.

But Gompers' Committee on Organization had proposed limiting FOTLU membership to skilled workers, and restricting the labor movement to a select few.

'[12] In large part, FOTLU's founding principles and constitutional structures mirrored those Gompers had helped institute in the cigar makers' union.

[4] The FOTLU constitution provided for a governing body of five executive council members, who would also act as a legislative committee.

The Committee on Platform subsequently proposed, and the delegates approved, a preamble to the FOTLU constitution which sharply delineated the new federation from the Knights of Labor.

FOTLU asserted that 'A struggle is going on in the nations of the civilized world between the oppressors and the oppressed...a struggle between capital and labor, which must grow in intensity from year to year and work disastrous results to the toiling millions of all nations...'[13] The committee also proposed a number of resolutions, all of which were passed by the delegates.

Gompers was elected chairman of FOTLU's executive committee (making him the de facto president) in 1883, but even he did not attend that meeting.

[17] The federation made some effort to win passage of favorable legislation, but no unified plan of action took place.

[17] 1882 was also the year that FOTLU adopted a proposal to establish a national Labor Day holiday on the first Monday in September.

At its October 1884 convention, FOTLU attempted to reinvigorate itself by adopting a resolution again pushing for establishment of the eight-hour day.

Peter J. McGuire, president of the Carpenters union, proposed a resolution—which FOTLU adopted—which required that, if national legislation adopting an eight-hour day was not forthcoming by May 1, 1886, the federation would call a general strike.

During a peaceful labor rally protesting police violence against strikers in Chicago on May 4, a bomb was set off—killing one policeman immediately (seven others later died of their injuries.

In the wake of the Haymarket Riot, FOTLU proposed on April 25, 1886, that a truce be established between the Knights and the federation.

A letter signed by McGuire of the Carpenters; Adolph Strasser, president of CMIU; Josiah B. Dyer, general secretary of the Granite Cutters; P.J.

Gompers believed that the Knights were threatening the very existence of craft unionism, and their radical attitudes were likely to bring the wrath of governmental authority down on the labor movement in the wake of the Haymarket Riot.

A number of former FOTLU craft unions had affiliated with the Knights, and they formed a powerful and cohesive clique within the labor organization.

At the same time, some important Knight leaders had quietly approached Grand Master Workman Terence V. Powderly, and convinced him of that many of FOTLU's grievances were justified.

[28] Additionally, the collapse of the Southwest rail strike was putting pressure on Powderly to seek breathing room.

But delegates to the Cleveland convention, dominated by anti-craft union activists, never permitted the agreement to come up for discussion.

Instead, delegates passed a resolution ordering Powderly to defend the organization at all costs and expel any member who did not support the Knights.

Gompers and the executive committee congratulated the 20 FOTLU delegates on the organization's success in advocating for an eight-hour day.