In the early 1800s, workers put in long hours with little time off and union organizers sought to shorten the workday and get more days off for workers. Labor Day originated in 1882 in New York City when unions declared a one-day strike to allow workers to march in a parade and gather afterward. Twelve years later, half the states recognized Labor Day as a holiday, and President Grover Cleveland signed a bill into law in 1894 making it a national holiday.
See our Newsletter:
SHDTC-Updates_Labor Day_Issue 9_090522
To learn more about Labor Day, explore the online collections at the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress.
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