Why did labor union membership begin to decline in the late 1890s?

The labor movement experienced a noticeable decline in the 1890’s as memberships plummeted. There are several factors. Some unions, like the Knights of Labor, failed because the organization tried to be ‘all things‘ for its large number of members. Public attitude to workers and labor unions also soured during this time as frequent strikes disrupted production and daily lives of the people. Some labor unions also have ties to violent anarchists and communists that often led to violent strikes, and so lost sympathy of the people and the general workers.

Labor union membership began to decline with problems of an autocratic, mismanagement and unsuccessful strikes. There were disputes among the skilled trade unionists and the industrial unionists which weakened the organization. In 1890 it had fewer than 100,000 members. In addition in 1895 the members of the socialist labor party left the knights to found the socialist trade and labor alliance as a Marxist rival and the membership reduced to 17,000.