What Is The Origin Of Labor Day

Labor Day's roots can be traced back to the late 19th century, during the peak of the Industrial Revolution. It was a time where laborers had extreme 12-hour workdays seven days a week. Uprisings from workers led to the establishment of labor unions, demanding better work conditions and reasonable working hours. The first Labor Day parade was held in 1882 in New York City by the Central Labor Union. After several states started observing Labor Day, it became a national holiday in 1894 when President Grover Cleveland signed a law to appease labor tensions after the Pullman Strike.

Hmmm, if we travel back in time to the era of the Industrial Revolution in the United States during the late 1800s, we find ourselves immersed in the harsh working conditions that birthed the concept of Labor Day. Amid the smoke and clamour of factories, laborers including children spent up to 12 gruelling hours, seven days a week earning a mere pittance. In response to these inhuman conditions, labor unions began to form, challenging the exploitation. The first ever Labor Day parade occurred in New York City in 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union. Fast forward to two years later, the Knights of Labor, a prominent labor organization of the time, successfully lobbied Congress to declare the first Monday of September a national holiday honouring the workers. But it was not until the Pullman Strike in 1894, that Labor Day became a federal holiday. President Grover Cleveland, frightened by the escalating civil unrest, quickly passed legislation making Labor Day a national holiday in an attempt to placate the workers. From the dark underbelly of the Industrial Revolution, arose the commemoration of the invaluable contributions of workers in shaping the nation, a day we now celebrate as Labor Day.