HISTORY107 - Labor Day
The history of Labor Day has been on my future blog list for a long time. Checking my list and the calendar, I decided it would be a timely subject for this blog. After a short introduction, I will cover the origins of Labor Day, how it was distinguished from May Day, the evolution of labor practices, and end with how Labor Day is celebrated today. I will list my principal sources at the end. Introduction Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States, celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. The roots of Labor Day date back to the decades following the Civil War when workers took part in strikes and rallies to demand shorter workdays and better working conditions. In the late nineteenth century, labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s st