Enumerate the major influences that acted to bring the merging of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Before discussing the influences that led to the merger, let's briefly understand the background of AFL and CIO. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was a national federation of labor unions in the United States founded in 1886, with the aim of promoting the interests of skilled workers. The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), on the other hand, was established in 1935 as a separate union within the AFL to focus on organizing unskilled workers in mass-production industries.

The AFL and CIO initially separated due to differing objectives and philosophies when it came to labor organization. The AFL focused on organizing skilled workers into trade-specific unions, while the CIO aimed to bring together all kinds of workers (skilled and unskilled) in entire industries. This difference in organizational structure led to the split between the two organizations.

During the post-World War II period, there was a growing anti-communist sentiment in the United States. Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, many union leaders were targeted for alleged communist sympathies. Both the AFL and CIO faced political pressure to distance themselves from any such affiliations by consolidating and demonstrating a united front against communism.

The post-war economic boom in the United States created a competitive environment for labor unions. Both the AFL and CIO faced competition from each other for membership, which led to conflicts and weakened labor's overall bargaining power. Merging the two organizations would consolidate their membership and strengthen their collective bargaining power in negotiations with employers.

During the 1940s and 1950s, there was a decline in union membership in the United States. Pressure from employers, emergence of right-to-work laws, and a shift towards white-collar jobs contributed to this decline. Faced with this challenge, the AFL and CIO saw the benefits of merging to strengthen their position and attract more members.

George Meany, the president of AFL, and Walter Reuther, the president of CIO, shared a common vision for the labor movement and played a significant role in bringing the two organizations together. Their leadership and willingness to compromise on key policies and issues helped pave the way for the merger.

In 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations officially merged to form the AFL-CIO. The merger was an important step towards strengthening the labor movement, consolidating membership, and increasing the bargaining power of organized labor in the United States. The merger remains an essential event in the history of labor unions in the US. In conclusion, major influences leading to the merging of AFL and CIO include political pressure, economic factors, declining union membership, and the leadership of George Meany and Walter Reuther. The merger of these two organizations strengthened the labor movement in the United States and improved the bargaining power of workers.