Haymarket Affair: The Pivotal Moment in Labor History

MayLabor day, a day that comes on the first of May every year to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in Chicago. The events at the Haymarket Square was set into motion whenby the Federation of Organized Trades, and Labor Unions demanded for shorter work days. FOTLU called for a nationwide strike, coined the Eight-Hour Movement, to begin on May 1st, 1866. In Chicago, Illinois at the Haymarket Square the protests began as peaceful as did the rest of the United States, however on May 6th, 1866 the square shook was riddled from ani n earth-shattering explosions. The Haymarket Affair was significant to the labor movement is the most pivotal moment in the history of labor in the United States because it captured the attention obroughf t many unskilled/skilled

BBy hiring employees that speak different languages, the capitalists attempted to cut off all communication between workers. Some even blocked out workers who were in unions and shunned activists from society. Four rioters were hanged for their falsely accused crimes although their trials were unjust and did not directly prove they were guilty. The government did more harm than good "…by strengthening the police, militia, and the U.S. Army, and vigilante groups proliferated." The This increased strength of the ggovernment along with the capitalists,s’ counteroffensive was unconstitutionalstole away citizens constitutional rights. The government took away rights such as freedom of speech and right to a fair trial by a jury of peers. Furthermore, the “debasement of politics and society rested in part on the capacity of the rich to corrupt governments in their own self-interest.” Citizens were experiencing the corruption and unfair atrocities displayed government and their capitalist cohort. Individuals who peacefully participated in the strike on the streets were also charged, including “men who did not in any way represent the sentiment of this Order by placing themselves in the attitude of opposing the officers of the law.” Terence Powderly, who was the leader of the Knights of Labor, was outraged that individuals were carrying out violence on the street and that the media under put the blame towards the

Early after the adaptation of the AFL, the group "…proved more adept at winning strikes and making gains for members." The members of the AFL decided to minimize their risk to get hired by employers with less demand to gain more influence in the job market. After gaining power in the larger industries, the AFL then began to make clear and just demands to employers and “…limited their demands to improved wages and working conditions.” The AFL realized that to achieve their goals they would have to compromise and take small victories. that they could not refute. This method proved successful after the newly founded Federation starting to win most of the strikes that they participated in. Even though “…employers made it clear that they would do everything possible to destroy the labor movement.”, the AFL stood strong for many years to come. At the end of 1955, the AFL merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations otherwise known as CIO. Together, the AFL-CIO alliance proved to be the most successful union to date, without fourteen million members. Through all the little turmoil and public distressed which stemmed from the Haymarket bombings, created a more unified labor organization union in the United States. The AFL was unified around keeping it pure and simple. For many activists today,