Which labor leader is famously associated with the establishment of the American Federation of Labor?

Samuel Gompers is famously associated with the establishment of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which he founded in 1886. Gompers emphasized the importance of higher wages, shorter working hours, and better working conditions for skilled workers. Under his leadership, the AFL focused on organizing skilled laborers and emphasized collective bargaining as a means to achieve these goals. Gompers' approach significantly shaped the labor movement in the United States by promoting the idea that unions could work within the existing capitalist framework to secure rights and benefits for workers.

In contrast, Mary Harris Jones, also known as Mother Jones, was a prominent labor activist who worked primarily to raise awareness about labor issues and lead strikes but did not found the AFL. Terence Powderly was the leader of the Knights of Labor, an earlier labor organization that sought to unite all workers, regardless of skill or trade, which is a different focus than that of Gompers and the AFL. John L. Lewis was a significant figure in the labor movement later in the 20th century, known for his leadership of the United Mine Workers and later as a key player in the formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which aimed at organizing industrial workers, further distinguishing his activities