Labor Day, the unofficial end of Summer. Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Labor Day in the United States? It was created by the Labor Movement in the late 19th century and became a Federal Holiday in 1894. In the late 1800’s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12 hour days and seven day weeks, in order to eke out a basic living. Children as young as five or six, labored in mills, factories and mines across the Country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. People of all ages often faced extremely unsafe working conditions with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.
Labor Unions began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and force employers to renegotiate hours and pay. This led to some violent incidents, including the infamous Haymarket Riot of 1886, in which several Chicago Policemen and workers were killed. The Pullman Railroad Strike in 1894 led to Federal Troops being called to break the strike, killing some demonstrators.
Congress passed an act making Labor Day a Legal Holiday in the District of Columbia and the Territories. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law.
