The History of Labor Day

The first Monday in September is called Labor Day and is celebrated as a holiday by most Americans. Most businesses and schools are closed. Labor Day weekend is thought of as the unofficial end of summer. Schools have just opened or are about to open, and weather is getting cooler. The day is meant to honor all American workers for the contributions they have made to the strength and prosperity of the great and mighty United States of America.

Why is Labor Day considered the unofficial end of summer?

• It is celebrated on the last day of the month.

• It is celebrated when schools have just opened and the weather is about to change to the Fall season.

• It signals the honor of schools being closed and people are on vacation.

• None of these answers is correct.

An incident in Chicago in May, 1886, prompted workers to set up a new holiday called International Workers Day. This never became an official holiday, however. Workers gathered in the streets to protest long working days and to ask for 8-hour days. At first, they were peaceful until a bomb was thrown at a policeman who was killed. The police fired into the crowd and several people were killed. After that event, union leaders called May 1 International Workers Day. It has never become official in America. Eighty countries do celebrate that day. Also, in 1886, 200,000 employees of the Union Pacific and Missouri Railroad went on a strike which lasted for weeks. Fighting occurred and several workers were killed.

Why in May of 1886 did workers create a new holiday called the International Workers Day?

• Workers wanted a raise at their jobs so the violently protested and were killed. This became known as the International Workers Memorial Day.

• Workers were protesting their bosses having too much control over their lives so they created the International Workers Day to have more power in the workplace.

• The government created May 1 the official International Workers Day to honor all workers in the world.

• Workers protedted long working days and wanted 8-hour long working days; their protests lead to violence in the streets. To remember the incident, the union called May 1st International Workers Day.

The average worker in the United States worked a 12-hour day in the 1890's. Pay was low and working conditions for many people were often unhealthy and dangerous. A violent strike of Pullman train workers occurred in May, 1894, in Chicago, where many were killed. (A strike is a time when employees of a company refuse to work unless the boss of the company listens to needs they say they have regarding wages, working conditions and other benefits.)

The average worker in 1890s America worked ​ (a)   long days. Workers pay was low and their working conditions were often ​ (b)   Train workers at the ​ (c)   company conducted a ​ (d)   to protest their working conditions.

• 8-hour
• 12-hour
• dangerous.
• boring.
• Pullman
• Pacific
• strike
• walkout

Other railroad workers joined the Pullman strike. Railroads carried the mail so U.S. President Grover Cleeveland tried to force the train employees to go back to work by an injunction (a warning or order) . The railroad employees refused. The President then sent in federal troops. 30 workers died in a violent clash. Because of that strike, the U.S. Congress pushed President Grover Cleveland to declare the first Monday in September a federal holiday called Labor Day.

Why did President Grover Cleveland send in federal troops to face the workers?

• The President was trying to force the railroad workers, who carried the US Mail, to go back to work.

• The President was trying to negotiate with the striking railroad workers.

• The President was running for re-election the following year and was trying to act tough and decisive.

• The President was convinced by the US Congress that by doing this he would not have to create a national holiday honoring workers.

Because both of the violent incidents occurred in 1886 and 1894, both in the month of May, President Grover Cleveland wanted to avoid the month of May when picking a time to celebrate workers. In 1894, he chose the first Monday in September for Labor Day. Professor Jonathan Cutler of Wesleyan University says that the May date remembers protests and violence. The September Labor Day celebrates the 'dignity of work' for all.

Why did U.S. President Cleveland not choose May as a day to remember American workers?

• He wanted people to remember to violent clashes and loss of worker's lives while protesting their bad working conditions

• He did not want people to remember to violent clashes and loss of worker's lives while protesting their bad working conditions

• He didn't like May because it was too hot.

• He thought that by choosing September people would more likely want to celebrate because it was the changing of the seasons, from Summer to Fall.

Choose all of the activities you might see during the Labor Day holiday in America. ​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ ​ (c)   ​ (d)   ​ (e)  

• College Football
• Hot Rod Drag Racing
• Barbecues
• US Open Tennis Championships
• Sales at Stores
• US Surfing Championships
• US Presidential Election
• Begining of Summer Vacation

In which of the following years was Labor Day made an official federal holiday?

• 1894

• 1834

• 1876

• 1800

Which of the following describes the length of an average working day in the 1890's?

• 8 hours

• 10 hours

• 12 hours

• 16 hours

In which of the following cities did the first unofficial Labor Day celebration occur?

• Boston, Massachusetts

• Atlanta, Georgia

• New York City, New York

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Which of the following words describes a time when workers refuse to work unless they can receive better benefits?

• Work Stoppage

• Work Delay

• Strike

• Work Refusal