Which of the following tactics was NOT used by the AFL to achieve their goals?

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) employed various tactics to advance the rights and conditions of workers, including strikes, boycotts, and negotiations, each serving a distinct purpose in labor advocacy. Strikes were a powerful tool for workers to directly interrupt the production process to demand better wages or working conditions. Boycotts were used to persuade consumers to avoid products from companies that mistreated their workers, thereby exerting economic pressure on employers. Negotiations represented a more diplomatic approach, where representatives of the labor union would meet with management to discuss and reach agreements on employment terms.

Public rallies, though they are often associated with labor movements to raise awareness and garner public support, were not a primary tactic systematically used by the AFL like the others. They may have occasionally organized events to rally support, but they were not fundamental to their strategic approach to achieving labor goals. The AFL primarily focused on more direct actions and negotiations as their main tactics. This distinguishes public rallies as less central to the organization’s operational methods for achieving labor objectives.