Changes

====Origins of Labor Day====The development of Labor Day developed through the history of the development of labor unions that arose as early as the late 18th century, particularly as factories and the industrial revolution Industrial Revolution began. With the rise and increasing growth of industrial development in the United States, labor unions increased in membership and, by extension, influencethroughout the mid-19th century. This was not unique to the United States, as countries in Europe as began to have workers organize and at times begin to conduct protests or even strikes. <ref>For more on the development of labor unions, see: Skurzynski, G. (2008) <i>Sweat and blood: a history of U.S. labor unions. People’s history</i>. Minneapolis, Twenty-First Century Books.</ref>

One major development in the the mid-19th century was the increasing demand for consumer products and infrastructure let , which led to increasing demands on factories, leading to growth that was fueled by unregulated labor markets. The supply of labor was plentiful as populations expanded, but this also meant that child labor and very long hours (12 or more per day) were typical. Average workers, despite working often 7-day weeks for more than 10 hours per day, often barley only just made enough to feed their families and keep their homes. In the United States and elsewhere, the second half of the 19th century saw increasing labor strikes protesting wages and often conditions, where sweatshop-like conditions often existed.With labor unions increasing in size, strikes became more effective in creating major disruptions to the economy, likely leading to eventual conflict with the authorities.<ref>For economic conditions that shaped labor movements in the 19th century, see: McVeigh, F.J. & Wolfer, L.T. (2004) <i>Brief history of social problems: a critical thinking approach</i>. Dallas, University Press of America.</ref>

May 1st was, from ancient origins, a festival day, often associated as a celebration for spring. This day was used by labor activists, socialists, and other labor proponents as a day to celebrate labor and its contribution to society. The events were also used as demonstrations against work conditions in factories. In Chicago, in 1886, May 1 was celebrated as a day calling for the 8 hour workday. On May 4, 1886, in Haymarket Chicago, an organized demonstration, also calling for an 8 hour work day and protesting earlier police killings of protestors, turned violent occurred. A bomb was thrown into the crowd and, combined with subsequent gunfire by police, several police and demonstrates were killed (Figure 1). Interestingly, it was in Europe that saw this event as being influential to the International Workers Conference in 1889 that called for annual demonstrations on May 1st to commemorate the events of the Haymarket event. In 1891, May Day (May 1) became recognized as the official day to recognize labor.nIn In the United States, the events of Haymarket was highly negative to the authorities, while also it made them wary of the increasing power of organized labor.<ref>For more on events that developed from the Haymarket incident and related strikes, see: Rull, J. (2016). <i>The Chicago Haymarket Affair: A Guide to a Labor Rights Milestone</i>. History Press Library Editions.</ref>

====Developments in the Late 19th and early 20th Century====[[File:HaymarketRiot-HarpersWorkers leave the Pullman Palace Car Works, 1893.jpg|thumbnail|left|Figure 12. Workers leaving the Pullman grounds in an organized strike.]]In the United States, celebrations in September 5th in celebrating labor had occurred by 1882. The Haymarket riots helped shape American Federation of Labor and the Central Labor Union were two organizations that had advocated for a day to celebrate labor. Canada in the development 1880s had also developed organized celebrations of labor in September, likely influencing US choice for the date. Trade unions in the United States had proposed a day September date for workers (a holiday throughout the 1880s. However, there was widespread disagreement, as many larger organizations, which wanted to link themselves with their colleagues in Europe, wanted to celebrate May 1 in Europe) as Labor Day, holding events of remembering labor and to demonstrate against work conditions and wages. In 1887, Oregon became the first state to celebrate Labor Day .<ref>For more on how Labor day developed in the United StatesUS states, see: Kevin Boyle (ed.) (1998) <i>Organized labor and American politics, 1894-1994: the labor-liberal alliance</i>. SUNY series in American labor history. Albany, State University of New York Press.]]</ref>

==Developments Throughout the 1890s, a national movement to commemorate labor developed. The Pullman Strike in 1894 occurred due to reduction in pay for workers as well as high costs associated with the Pullman rail company housing provided to them at a cost. The Pullman Company controlled much of the freight rail at the Late 19th time and early 20th Century==had vast power but also became critical to the operations of the larger economy of the United States. A strike was seen as threatening the US wider economy, leading to the government sending federal troops to breakup the protests after the protesters refused a court order to disband (Figure 2). This attempt at breaking the strike led to riots and violence, which eventually did lead to the collapse of the strikes but also many deaths. In effect, the governments actions were effective but politically costly for then President Grover Cleveland.<ref>For more on the Pullman Strike and subsequent events, see: Stein, R.C. (2001) <i>The Pullman strike and the labor movement in American history</i>. In American history. Berkeley Heights, NJ, USA, Enslow Publishers.</ref>

Throughout The cost to the government was widespread discontent with how the 1890sstrike was put down. Cleveland, along with Congress, proposed having a national movement federal holiday to commemorate celebrate labor developedto gain some political support he may have lost, particularly from some of the trade unions. The Pullman Strike However, one stipulation for Cleveland was the date of the celebration be in September, that is the first Monday in September, as he wanted to avoid celebrating in 1894 occurred May due to reduction in pay for workers as well as high costs associated with the Pullman rail company housing provided to events of Haymarket. Cleveland did not want the them at Haymarket events remembered and serve as a costrallying cry for further demonstrations, strikes, or even political turmoil. The Pullman Company controlled much of Additionally, already the freight rail at the time and had vast power but also became critical US government began to the operations be wary of the larger economy of the United Statespolitical movements sponsored by labor movements and what were socialist organizations. A strike In effect, it was seen as threatening a holiday that put the US wider economy, leading in similar footing to what happened elsewhere but with a specific avoidance of a day that the US government sending federal troops to breakup the protests after the protesters refused feared could become a court order to disbandrallying cry for other riots or even political action. This attempt at breaking <ref>For more on the strike led to riots and violencechoice of September for Labor day, which eventually did lead to see: Marianne Debouzy (ed.) (1992) <i>In the shadow of the collapse Statue of Liberty: immigrents, workers, and citizens in the strikes but also many deathsAmerican republic, 1880-1920</i>. 1st University of Illinois Press ed. In effectUrbana, University of Illinois Press, the governments actions were effective but politically costly for then President Grover Clevelandpg. 173.</ref>

The cost to the government was widespread discontent with how the strike was put down. Cleveland, along with Congress, proposed having a federal As Labor Day became an official US holiday to celebrate labor to gain some political support he may have lostin 1894, particularly much did not change from some earlier celebrations of the trade unionsLabor Day at state and other levels. Parades were held commemorating labor and calls were made for better working conditions and fair wages. However, one stipulation for Cleveland was the date of by the celebration be in Septemberearly 20th century, that is the first Monday prosperity increased in September, as he wanted to avoid celebrating many areas in May due to the events of HaymarketUnited States as market conditions improved. Cleveland Worker conditions did not want the Haymarket events remembered and become a rallying cry gradually improve, creating alternative opportunities for further demonstrations, strikes or even political turmoilcelebrations. Additionally, already Fairs began to develop around the US government holiday weekend and more family-oriented events began to be wary of political movements sponsored organized by labor movements and what were socialist organizationscommunities as leisure time increased for people.<ref>For more on how Labor Day events evolved into the 20th century, see: Coleman, M., Ganong, L.H. In effect& Warzinik, it was a holiday that put the US K. (2007) <i>Family life in similar footing to what happened elsewhere but with a specific avoidance of a day that the US government feared could become a rallying cry for other riots or even political action20th-century America. Family life through history</i>. Westport, Conn, Greenwood Press. </ref>

As Labor Day became an official US holiday in 1894====Modern Celebrations====The 8 hour workday, which is what the Haymarket demonstrates originally wanted, much did not change from earlier celebrations of Labor Day eventually come to the United States. First, at state local and other company levelsby the 1880s-1890s, but recognized through federal laws such as the Adamson Act in 1916. Parades Many of the core reasons for strikes faded, although strikes often did reoccur as abuses were held commemorating labor evident and calls were made for better working conditions economic hardships returned. Labor Day increasingly began to be associated as a end of summer holiday. Stores and fair wagesmarkets began to use the event to market products. However, by Schools began to organize their calendars around the early 20th centuryLabor Day weekend, prosperity returned choosing to many areas resume classes in the United Statesfirst Tuesday, although many still begin slightly earlier. Worker conditions did gradually improveAs it is seen as the end of summer, creating alternative opportunities it is also seen as the transition period for celebrationsautumn sports and activities. Fairs began to develop around the holiday weekend and <ref>For more family-oriented events began to be organized by communities as leisure time increased for peopleon labor rights progress, see: Boyle 1998: 84.</ref>

==Modern Celebrations==The 8 hour workdayScholars also debate that declaring Labor Day in September, which rather than in May, as it is what the Haymarket demonstrates originally wantedcelebrate now in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, did eventually come to has helped avoid more extremist acts in the United States. FirstTrade Unions, at local for a time, became relatively powerful but also steered organized labor in the United States away from more socialist and company levels by later Communist movements that spread in some countries in the 1880s-1890s20th century. To this day, but recognized through federal laws such as many people in the United States have disassociated the Adamson Act radical influences that occurred in 1916. Many the late 19th century on the creation of the core reasons for strikes faded, although strikes often did reoccur as abuses were evident and economic hardships returned. Labor Day increasingly began to be associated as a end in part because of summer holiday. Stores the date being established in September and markets began possibly less linked, symbolically, to use the event to market productsMay Day celebrations. Schools began to organize their calendars around <ref>For more on the impact of Labor Day weekend, choosing to resume classes in the first Tuesdaysee: Haverty-Stacke, although many still begin slightly earlierD.T.As it is seen as the end of summer(2009) <i>America’s forgotten holiday: May Day and nationalism, it is also seen as the transition period for autumn sports 1867-1960</i>. American history and activitiesculture. New York, New York University Press. </ref>

Scholars also debate that declaring Although Labor Day in September rather than in Maytoday is a Federal holiday, as it is celebrate now in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South Americanot mandated that all or most workers have the day off. Nevertheless, has helped avoid more extremist acts most employers in the United Statesrecognize it as a holiday, although they are not required to make it a paid holiday. The ideas of Labor Day have not completely disappeared. Trade Unions, It still holds significance particularly for those calling for a timeincreased minimum wage and other perceived injustice, became relatively powerful but also steered although organized labor in the United States away from more socialist and later communist movements that spread in some countries in the 20th century. To this day, many people in the United States have disassociated the radical influences that occurred is far less influential today than in the late 19th century . This includes labor equality and calling for equal pay for men and women for similar roles.<ref>For modern movements on the creation labor issues, see: Baldwin, R.E. (2003)<i> The decline of US labor day in part because unions and the role of the date being established in Septembertrade</i>. Washington, D.C, Institute for International Economics. </ref>

Although {{Mediawiki:AmNative}}====Summary====Most official holidays in our calendar commemorate national or religious events. Labor Day today day is a Federal holidayproduct of the Industrial Revolution, it is not mandated that all when organized labor and more radical movements began to organize against often appalling working conditions and low wages. The late 19th century witnessed several violent episodes where strikes were put down or most workers have economic disruption occurred. While many of the day offviolent movements were put down, it was recognized something must be done to appease increasingly organized labor movements. NeverthelessWith improved economic conditions, most employers many forgot the reasons for why the day became established and today has mostly a symbolic meaning in the United States recognize it as a holiday, although they are not required to make it a paid holidaythe end of summer. HThe ideas of Labor Ironically events in the United States made May Day have not completely disappeared(May 1) an important date for organized labor internationally. It still holds significance particularly for those calling for increased minimum wage and For other perceived injustice. This includes labor equalitycountries, calling they have retained May 1 as the holiday for equal pay for men labor. In left-leaning states and women for similar rolesgovernments, it is even seen as among the most important dates to celebrate.

==Summary==References====Most official holidays in our calendar commemorate national or religious events. Labor day is a product of the Industrial Revolution, when organized labor and more radical movements began to organize against often appalling working conditions and low wages. The late 19th century witnessed several violent episodes where strikes were put down or economic disruption occurred. While many of the violent movements were put down, it was recognized something must be done to appease increasingly organized labor movements. With improved economic conditions, many forgot the reasons for why the day became established and today has mostly a symbolic meaning in the United States as the end of summer. Ironically events in the United States made May Day (May 1) an important date for organized labor internationally. For other countries, they have retained May 1 as the holiday for labor. In left-leaning states and governments, it is even seen as among the most important dates to celebrate.<references/>