Labor Day
Labor Day, is a celebration for workers and their achievements. During the Industrial Revolution (1800's) in the United States the average American worked 12 hours per day and 7 days a week. Even children in some states worked as young as 5 years-old. People of all ages and the poor and immigrants were exposed to unsafe working conditions. Labor unions occurred in the 18th century and they became vocal and protested about work conditions and hours worked. This caused many protests and even riots. On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers did not receive pay and took time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City becoming the first Labor Day Parade for the "workingmen's holiday." Celebrated the first Monday in September. Congress did not make it an official holiday until 12 years later. On June 26, 1894 the Railroad Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, called for a boycott on all Pullman railway cars, disabling railroad traffic nationwide. To stop the strike the federal government let loose troops to Chicago, creating waves of riots that killed more than a dozen workers. Congress to make peace with the workers made the holiday legal in the District of Columbia and the other territories.
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