Learn about the history of May 1

Labor Day is a holiday with deep roots in the history of the labor movement in the United States. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, the demands of workers and unions intensified, and eight-hour movements around the world emerged in the 1850s with the goal of reducing the workday from ten to eight hours.

The American Federation of Labor called a general strike in Chicago on May 1, 1886, at its first congress, demanding an eight-hour workday, culminating in the Haymarket Riot, which gave rise to International Workers' Day.

Although May 1 is celebrated worldwide as International Workers' Day, Labor Day is celebrated in the United States in September. The first Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1882 in New York, when the Central Labor Union and other labor organizations organized a parade to create a holiday for workers. President Grover Cleveland made it a federal holiday in 1894.

It is not entirely clear who first suggested the Labor Day holiday. Some sources indicate that Matthew Maguire proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the New York Central Labor Union, while others argue that Peter J. Mcguire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested a holiday for the "working classes" in 1882.

The holiday was set on the first Monday in September because it was considered a more politically neutral date than May 1. Another reason was to add a holiday to bridge the long gap between Independence Day in July and Thanksgiving in November.

In conclusion, Labor Day has a rich and varied history in the United States, and although it is celebrated on a different date than International Workers' Day, it is still an important day to honor workers and their contributions to the country.