Why did the National Labor Union collapse? Please don't give me links - I've looked everywhere, including Wikipedia. I just don't understand what actually caused it to collapse so I'm looking for an answer. I'm trying to connect it to the collapse of the Knights of Labor but that won't work if I don't know why the National Labor Union collapsed. Please help.
"In 1868, William Sylvis, leader of the Iron Molder's International Union, was elected as its first president. The NLU had some success in attracting members until 1869, when Sylvis died suddenly. After that, the NLU divided over politics and the issue of beginning a third party. In 1872, the organization, by then called the National Labor Reform Party, collapsed when its chosen presidential candidate backed out of the race."
http://www.answers.com/topic/national-labor-union
The collapse of the National Labor Union (NLU) can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the death of its influential leader, internal political divisions, and failed attempts to establish a third party.
In 1868, the NLU came into existence with William Sylvis, the leader of the Iron Molder's International Union, as its first president. It initially gained some success in attracting members and advocating for the rights and welfare of workers. However, in 1869, Sylvis unexpectedly passed away, which left a significant void in the NLU's leadership.
After Sylvis' death, the NLU began to experience internal divisions, particularly relating to politics. Some members advocated for the establishment of a third party to represent labor interests, while others believed in pursuing their objectives through existing political parties. This disagreement over the strategy and direction of the NLU led to factionalism within the organization.
The final blow came in 1872 when the NLU, now renamed the National Labor Reform Party, faced a major setback. The party had chosen a candidate to run for the presidency, but unfortunately, that individual withdrew from the race. This event served as a significant blow to the NLU's credibility and unity, ultimately leading to its collapse.
The collapse of the NLU is connected to the subsequent downfall of the Knights of Labor since the NLU served as a precursor and inspiration for the latter. The failure of a national labor organization like the NLU to effectively bring about significant improvements for workers further highlighted the need for a more unified and powerful labor movement.