Haymarket Affair

Discover the historical events that marked May 1 as International Workers' Day—A tribute to labourers and their enduring struggle for rights

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On May 1, 1886, the American Federation of Labor initiated a general strike, setting the stage for a historic movement in the United States

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May 4, 1886: The Haymarket affair erupted with a bombing during a labour rally at Chicago's Haymarket Square, marking a pivotal moment

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What started as a peaceful rally turned deadly when a bomb was thrown at police, leading to gunfire and chaos

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The violent aftermath saw seven police officers and several civilians dead, deepening the national divide on workers' rights

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Eight activists were controversially convicted in the wake of the violence, fueling ongoing debates about justice and labour rights

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Governor John Peter Altgeld's 1893 pardon criticized the trial's fairness, highlighting ongoing challenges in labour justice

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Chicago's Haymarket Square and the Forest Park Monument stand as enduring symbols of the labor movement's legacy

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Haymarket Affair

The massacre that led to the establishment of

Labour Day

Discover the historical events that marked May 1 as International Workers' Day—A tribute to labourers and their enduring struggle for rights

Origins of Labour Day

On May 1, 1886, the American Federation of Labor initiated a general strike, setting the stage for a historic movement in the United States

Spark of Labour Movements

May 4, 1886: The Haymarket affair erupted with a bombing during a labour rally at Chicago's Haymarket Square, marking a pivotal moment