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The History and Origins of Labor Day
A day to reflect on the legacy of American workers.
Labor Day is often celebrated by Americans with parties, backyard barbecues, street parades and discounted shopping. It symbolizes the end of summer and the return to school. However, most importantly it is a day to acknowledge and reflect on the grit, effort and hard work of American workers that make our everyday lives possible.
From the barista that makes your morning coffee to the cleaning staff at your workplace, these workers, often compensated with incredibly low wages, enable you to live the life you currently cherish. Labor Day is a chance to thank workers for their contribution to your life and recognize the many contributions workers have made to enhance America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
It is also a chance to reflect on the history of the 19th-century labor movement that led to the formal declaration of Labor Day as a federal holiday and to acknowledge the struggles and challenges workers face in modern-day America.
The Labor Movement
The labor movement began at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. During the Industrial Revolution, the average worker had an 84 hour work week with 12-hour days for all seven days of the week and poor…
