The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) split from the AFL in 1935 primarily to advocate for which sectors?

The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed in 1935 as a response to the needs of workers in mass production industries. This major labor movement emerged from the American Federation of Labor (AFL) due to a growing recognition that traditional craft-based unions, which the AFL represented, were not adequately addressing the needs of workers in increasingly industrialized sectors such as steel, automotive, and textiles.

The CIO focused on organizing unskilled and semi-skilled workers in these mass production industries, which were vital to the American economy during that period. Their approach was more inclusive than that of the AFL, aiming to unite workers across different job classifications and industries to advocate for better working conditions, wages, and labor rights. This shift towards industrial unionism was pivotal in changing the labor landscape in the United States, as it allowed for a more powerful collective bargaining capability among a diverse workforce.

Understanding this context highlights why mass production industries were the focal point of the CIO's efforts, positioning them as a critical force in labor history during the mid-20th century.