Changes

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 began. With the rise and increasing growth of industrial development in the United States, labor unions increased in membership and, by extension, influence. 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 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 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.<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>