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Workers in 1600's
In the 1600's New England and Middle colonies settled by mix of free farmers and craftsmen. There were servants and African slaves. -
In Virginia
Virginia passes slave codes making slavery permanent and setting
some punishments for the misbehavior. -
In Boston
Shoemakers and coopers (barrel-makers) guilds were organized in Boston. Workers worked very hard -
American Revolutuion
American revolution began -
First textile mill
First textile mill was built in Rhode Island by Samuel Slater. It was staffed entirely by children under the age of 12. -
Female Labor Reform
The Female Labor Reform Association was created in Lowell, Massachusetts by Sarah Bagley. Women cotton mill workers, wanted to reduce the work day from 12-13 hours to 10 hours and improve the conditions. -
National Labor Union
a political-action movement that from 1866-1873 fought to improve working conditions.The Union failed to persuade Congress to shorten the workday and the labor organization itself dissolved in 1873. -
8 Hours
The first 8-hour workday for federal workers took effect. Neither law was well-enforced, working hours of 10 to 12 hours were still common. -
Strikes
In Atlanta, Georgia, 3,000 Black women laundry workers staged one of the largest and most effective strikes in the history of the south. The strike not only raised wages but it established laundresses and all black women workers. The white establishment was forced to acknowledge that black women workers, who were former slaves, were not invisible. -
Invasion of the Americas
invasion of the Americas begins with Christopher Columbus’s
“discovery”.Many were enslaved by Spanish to work in mining and agriculture. -
New York
The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights went into effect in New York State thanks to Domestic Workers United.