Who was the labor leader who founded the Knights of Labor in 1869?

Uriah Stephens was indeed the labor leader who founded the Knights of Labor in 1869. His vision for the organization was to unite all workers, regardless of skill level, gender, or race, to advocate for better working conditions and fair wages. The Knights of Labor marked a significant development in the labor movement of the late 19th century, moving toward a more inclusive approach compared to earlier labor organizations which primarily represented skilled trades.

The Knights of Labor focused on broad social reforms, including an eight-hour workday and the restriction of child labor. Stephens' leadership was pivotal in the early growth and influence of the organization, which aimed to address the exploitation faced by workers during the industrialization of the United States.

Samuel Gompers, while a notable labor leader, founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1886, which focused more on skilled labor and practical trade unionism. George Pullman was a railroad magnate known for the Pullman Strike and not a labor leader, while Eugene Debs was a key figure in the socialist movement and the founding of the American Railway Union, but he was not involved in the creation of the Knights of Labor.