Question #437d6
1 Answer
Only separately. Each was a movement unto itself and did not rely upon or draw from the other.
Explanation:
The union movement during the gilded age saw the rapid emergence of unions as a powerful force in industrial America. Although the first large union, the Knight of Labor, was declining in both membership and power the newly formed American Federation of Labor and the Industrial Workers of the World were organizing both skilled and unskilled labor respectively.
The Populist Party and movement started its decline around 1900, the same time the AFL and IWW were in their infancy. The Populists had favored the grangers and movement among farmers and ranchers. They served rural America while the unions served urban America.
It can be inferred that the populist movement gave rise to the modern unions but making the bridge from rural America to urban America is a bit of a reach, but that is just my opinion.
