-
National Labor Union passes a resolution calling for an eight-hour work day.
National Labor Union passes a resolution calling for an eight-hour work day. -
Illinois enacts the nation's first eight-hour law
Illinois enacts the nation's first eight-hour law, but employers refuse to comply and the law is rendered meaningless. -
Coordinated strikes and demonstrations are held
Coordinated strikes and demonstrations are held nationwide, to demand an eight-hour workday for industrial workers. -
McCormick Reaper Works factory strike
McCormick Reaper Works factory strike; unarmed strikers, police clash; several strikers are killed. -
A Haymarket Square working men meeting
A meeting of workingmen is held near Haymarket Square; police arrive to disperse the peaceful assembly; a bomb is thrown into the ranks of the police; the police open fire; workingmen evidently return fire; police and an unknown number of workingmen killed; the bomb thrower is unidentified. -
police arrest anarchist and labor activists,
Widespread public outrage and shock in Chicago and nationwide; police arrest anarchist and labor activists, including seven of the eight eventual defendants (Albert Parsons fled the city only to surrender himself on June 21.) -
Eight are chosen to stand trial
The grand jury indicts 31, charged with being accessories to the murder of policeman Mathias J. Degan; eight are chosen to stand trial: Albert Parsons, August Spies, Oscar Neebe, Louis Lingg, George Engel, Adolph Fischer, Michael Schwab, Samuel Fielden. -
Defendants, except Neebe, were hanged
Jury delivers its verdict of guilty for the 8 defendants. All defendants, except Neebe, are sentenced to receive the death penalty. Neebe is sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. -
Judge Gary delivers his speech and the final decision.
Judge Gary delivers his speech and the final decision. -
Legal counsel for the convicted appeal the case to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Legal counsel for the convicted appeal the case to the Illinois Supreme Court.
