The first Monday of every September in the United States, Labor Day is celebrated, hits beginnings began in the late 19th century when the labor movement was gaining steam throughout the working class. During the time, workers had to endure grueling hours, low wages, and unsafe working conditions. As America continued to grow and industries rapidly expanded to meet the demand, the working class had the brunt of this growth with little to no rights or protections. A need for a day to honor and celebrate the American worker for their contributions. Labor Day was born out of this necessity…a day to acknowledge the sacrifices and efforts of those who built America day in and day out.

Implementing Labor Day as a national holiday wasn’t without its external challenges. A push for workers’ rights was met with strong resistance from the industrialists who feared having a sense of losing control over their immediate workforce.  Various strikes and protests, like the Haymarket affair and the Pullman Strike, highlighted the growing tensions between the two sides.  Such events resulted in violence and loss of life, showcasing the desperation of the workers fighting for fair treatment at their workplace. Despite the resistance, President Grover Cleveland signed Labor Day into law as a federal holiday.

The establishment of Labor Day marked a significant victory for the labor movement and brought positive changes for American workers. More than just a day of rest, it was a symbolic day that signified the progress made in securing better working conditions, working hours, and overall compensation. Since then, Labor Day has evolved into a celebration of the American workforce, aside from BBQ’s with friends and family, but of the value of those that are in America’s workforce and the importance of maintaining those rights. The holiday also paved the way for future labor reforms, reinforcing the idea that the well-being of workers is essential to America’s prosperity.