Chicago's Haymarket Affair: The Bloody Birth of May Day

Chicago, Illinois. May Day is a pretty big deal in Europe. And you may have seen the colorful parades and the banners. May Day is all about workers' rights, equality, and social justice. Most of us know that the day exists. But do we really know the truth about May Day? The reason it is celebrated each year. To uncover the truth, we need to step back in time. Our journey begins in the late 19th century, a time period marked by significant social and industrial changes.

TIMELINE
1882: Eventually, between 1882 and 1886, when things had slowed down economically, socialist and anarchist groups became quite active.
1884: The Knights of Labor, a group that didn't support socialism, but did back the idea of an eight-hour workday, grew from 70,000 members in 1884 to over 700,000 by 1886.
1886: As May 1st, 1886 approached, when the demand for an eight-hour workday was just about to become standard, labor unions in the U.S. geared up for a massive general strike.
1889: Now in 1889, AFL President Samuel Gompers informed the World Socialists about their plans and proposed an international fight for a universal eight-hour workday.
1890: By May 1st, 1890, workers agreed to strike for an eight-hour workday.
1893: On June 26th, 1893, the governor, who was himself an immigrant of Germany, decided to pardon Fielden, Neeb, and Schwab, the remaining of the accused.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Chicago is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 139 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

If you liked this: Episode 170 (Ottawa, Illinois)

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy