The History Behind Labor Day

Celebrated annually on the first Monday in September, Labor Day is a federal holiday honoring the American labor movement and the many important contributions of laborers in the development of our nation. Dig into the history of Labor Day with SAFARI Montage resources highlighting the obstacles American workers faced at every turn as they fought for better pay and job conditions.

NEW! Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 (Dreamscape Media) - This biography by Michelle Markel featuring illustrations by Melissa Sweet tells the story of young immigrant Clara Lemlich, who led the largest strike of women workers in American history. After arriving in the United States, Lemlich went to night school, learned English and supported her family by sewing in a shirtwaist factory. Fed up with the mistreatment of her fellow laborers, Lemlich led the largest walkout of women workers the country has ever seen. Grades K-4.

The Curious Case of Labor Day (Media Inc) – In this video, the Sharp Wits try to uncover the origin of Labor Day. Their research reveals that Labor Day grew out of the work of labor unions trying to obtain better working conditions for factory workers. Grades 2-5.

A Nation in Turmoil (Schlessinger Media) – Beginning with the Railroad Strike of 1877, and covering the issues that tore apart the very fabric of the ''upstart nation,'' this program explores the World of Capital vs. the World of Labor, the victimization of women and children in the workplace, and the rise of organized labor, strikes and labor unions. English/Spanish. Grades 5-12.

The American Industrial Revolution (Media Rich Learning) – After the Civil War, the United States experienced an unprecedented period of innovation characterized by the inventions of Alexander Graham Bell, George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison and industrial development led by captains of industry such as John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and Cornelius Vanderbilt. While America was turned into an economic power, the human and environmental costs associated with that transformation remain major global issues today. Grades 5-Adult.

Labor Union History (Almanac Newsreel) – Historic black and white newsreel footage of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and its merger with the Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO). Grades 5-Adult.

Out of This Furnace: The Workers (Principal Media) - This brief clip describes working conditions in the nineteenth century and the gains achieved when workers banded together in unions. Grades 5-Adult.

Mine Wars (PBS) – At the beginning of the 20th century, coal was the engine of American industrial progress. Nearly three-quarters of a million men across the country spent 10-12 hours a day underground in coal mines. This program brings to life the decades-long struggle that turned the coalfields of southern West Virginia into a blood-soaked war zone where basic constitutional rights and freedoms were violently contested. Grades 9-Adult.

Triangle Fire (PBS) - It was the deadliest workplace accident in New York City's history. On March 25, 1911, a dropped match on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sparked a fire that killed over 100 innocent people trapped inside. The private industry of the American factory would never be the same again. Grades 7-Adult.

Why Do Americans and Canadians Celebrate Labor Day – This TED-Ed lesson by Kenneth C. Davis traces the history of the establishment of Labor Day as a federal holiday on the first Monday of September, both in the United States and Canada. Originally celebrated in New York City's Union Square in 1882, Labor Day was first organized by unions as a day of rest and as a day of protest against cruel practices such as child labor, long hours, and poor working conditions. Hosted on YouTube. Grades 7-Adult.

Sound Smart: Child Labor in the Industrial Revolution – This video from HISTORY discusses the controversial use of child labor during the Industrial Revolution. Hosted on YouTube. Grades 7-Adult.

The Rise and Fall of American Labor Unions - This video from Newsy examines the history of labor unions in the United States. Hosted on the YouTube Channel: Newsy. Grades 7-Adult.

His Father’s Namesake – This web link provides access to ''His Father's Namesake'' by Katherine San Fratello and the Chicago History Museum, a historical fiction narrative about the Haymarket Affair in Chicago. Supporting educational materials include an interactive history map, background information, vocabulary, reading comprehension questions and critical thinking questions. Grades 9-12.

The Jungle - Upton Sinclair's muckraking masterpiece, ''The Jungle'' details the horrors of Chicago's meatpacking industry and the exploitation of laborers at the beginning of the 20th century through the story of Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus. An eBook from Project Gutenberg. Grades 9-Adult.

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 – This act limited the working hours of children and forbade the interstate sale of goods produced by child labor. The Teacher's Guide contains the historical context and transcript of this milestone document in United States history. Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. Grades K-12.

National Labor Relations Act (1935) - Also known as the Wagner Act, this bill was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on July 5, 1935. It established the National Labor Relations Board and addressed relations between unions and employers in the private sector, especially to protect the right of collective bargaining. The Teacher's Guide contains the historical context of this milestone document in United States history. Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. Grades K-12.?