5.4 Labor Rights Timeline

  • the declaration of independence

    the declaration of independence
    The Declaration of independence was a declaration the made America free from the British and changed America forever
  • Samuel Gompers

    Samuel Gompers
    Samuel Gompers was a British-born American cigar maker, labor union leader and a key figure in American labor history. Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor and served as the organization's president from 1886 to 1894, and from 1895 until his death in 1924.
  • Atlanta's Washerwomen Strike

    Atlanta's Washerwomen Strike
    The 1881 Atlanta Washerwomen Strike, led by figures like Ellen Craft, marked a historic moment as African-American laundresses rallied for improved wages and working conditions, contributing to the advancement of labor rights and racial equality in the post-Civil War South.
  • The Strike at Homestead Mill

    The Strike at Homestead Mill
    The 1892 strike at Homestead Mill was a significant labor dispute between steelworkers and Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Steel Company. It turned violent when Pinkerton agents clashed with workers, resulting in casualties. Despite setbacks, the strike highlighted the challenges workers faced in their fight for better conditions and wages during the late 19th century.
  • George Meany

     George Meany
    William George Meany was an American labor union leader for 57 years. He was the key figure in the creation of the AFL–CIO and served as the AFL–CIO's first president, from 1955 to 1979. Meany, the son of a union plumber, became a plumber himself at a young age. He became a full-time union official 12 years later
  • McKees Rocks Strike

    McKees Rocks Strike
    The McKees Rocks Strike was a significant labor dispute that took place in 1909 in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. It involved thousands of steelworkers who were protesting poor working conditions and low wages in the steel mills owned by the Pressed Steel Car Company. The strike ultimately resulted in a violent clash between the workers and the company's private security, leading to several deaths and injuries, highlighting the struggles of laborers in the early 20th century.
  • The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

    The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
    The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, a tragic industrial disaster in 1911, claimed the lives of 146 garment workers in New York City. The fire highlighted the dangerous working conditions and lack of safety measures in factories, leading to significant labor reforms. This event played a pivotal role in shaping labor laws and workers' rights in the United States.
  • Mother Jones Mother Jones

      Mother Jones Mother Jones
    Mary G. Harris Jones, known as Mother Jones from 1897 onwards, was an Irish-born American labor organizer, former schoolteacher, and dressmaker who became a prominent union organizer, community organizer, and activist
  • Frances Perkins

    Frances Perkins
    Frances Perkins was an American workers-rights advocate who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. A member of the Democratic Party, Perkins was the first woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Speech

    Martin Luther King Jr. Speech
    "I've Been to the Mountaintop" is Martin Luther King, Jr.'s final speech delivered on April 3, 1968, in Memphis. In this powerful address, he emphasized nonviolent protest and unity among African Americans, expressing confidence in achieving racial justice. Tragically, he was assassinated the next day, making this speech an iconic moment in civil rights history.
  • John L. Lewis

    John L. Lewis
    John Llewellyn Lewis was an American leader of organized labor who served as president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1920 to 1960.
  • The Great Postal Strike of 1970

    The Great Postal Strike of 1970
    The Great Postal Strike of 1970 in the United States was a historic labor strike by postal workers demanding better wages and working conditions. It disrupted mail services nationwide, leading to a backlog of undelivered mail. Ultimately, the strike resulted in improved labor rights and benefits for postal workers.
  • He showed us the Way

    He showed us the Way
    Author: Cesar Chavez
  • Labor's labors lost? A year after stunning victory at Amazon, unions are stalled

    Labor's labors lost? A year after stunning victory at Amazon, unions are stalled
    Author:
    Andrea Hsu