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Industrialization
Corporations gained power, making money was their top priority. Working conditions worsened and workers were disregarded -
Eight Hour Labor Law
The Illinois legislature a law limiting the workday to eight hours but allowed a huge loophole that permitted employers to contract with their employees for longer hours. A citywide strike shut down the city's economy for a week and when the strike collapsed, the law collapsed with it; workers were left unprotected once again -
Growth of Unrest
Unrest escalated, highlighted by violent clashes between hostile police and militant union members. -
Rise of Unions
Laborers and unions begin to achieve success through strikes. The amount of members in The Knights of Labor increases to 700,000 -
May Day
a nationwide work stoppage to demand and bring pressure on employers and state governments to create an eight-hour workday -
McCormick Picket Strike
Many people walked out of the factory in order to protest their right to an eight hour workday. Some of the people harassed the strikebreakers meant to replace them, causing police to use force. -
Haymarket Riot
Labor radicals organized a rally to protest the killing and wounding of several workers during a strike the day before at the McCormick Reaper Works. -
Trial Begins
"Trial of the Chicago Anarchists" is opened. The convicted men are all well know anarchists and radical labor group leaders. -
"Black Friday"
Execution day for 4 of the 8 convicted anarchist labor leaders: Spies, Fischer, Engel, and Parsons -
Pardoning
New governor John P. Altgeld pardons the three remaining activists Fielden, Schwab, and Neebe