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 1800s, 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.
In a History Channel Documentary, we learn the Pullman Railroad strike in 1894 led to Federal troops being called to break the strike, killing some demonstrators.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
