Informative Essay: Labor Day In The United States

Improved Essays
On September 7, 1885, the first nationwide observance of Labor Day occurred. Over the next four years, this holiday would be celebrated in over 400 cities. Oregon was the first state in the union to make Labor Day an official holiday, New York would follow later that same year. Furthermore, New York declared the first Monday in September as the official day to celebrate this holiday (Foner, 2005). By 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday. How this holiday would look and take place was outlined in the first proposal for the institution of the holiday. A street parade as a demonstration to the public the strength and spirit of the working class was also part of the original proposal; followed by festivities for the workers and their families.
This holiday pays tribute to workers as well as the American labor movement by honoring their contributions to the prosperity and well-being of the United
…show more content…
When it first began, a festival would be provided for the workers, their families and friends. Today, the celebration custom follows a similar pattern. Families everywhere celebrate the holiday with barbeques, beach goers get one final day at their favorite location, weather permitting, and shoppers are provided with Labor Day sales. One of the well-known discounts offered during this holiday is the back-to-school sale. It has been reported by retailers as the second largest sale date of the year.
The United States and Canada, both celebrate this September holiday. It also marks the unofficial ending of the summer season. For those in the fashion history, it marked the end of wearing white. During this time most people choose to vacation before the beginning of the fall activities. One of the most well-known traditions is the start of the new academic year. Most schools reopen after labor day and others resume the week

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Therefore, a current debate in education is to move toward a year-round school calendar. With this system, schools continue to operate 180 days per year. However, these 180 days are extended over the entire year, with short breaks between each term. This type of schooling began evolving in urban areas in the 1900s, however, it has only recently become a debate in the United States within the last twenty-five years. There are several versions of year-round schooling.…

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of these ways is the holiday known as Flag Day. Flag Day is believed to have been started in eighteen eighty-five. The day June fourteen was chosen for the celebration of the flag because on June fourteen, seventeen seventy-seven, the Continental Congress replaced the British flag with the American flag. On May thirty, nineteen sixteen, President Woodrow Wilson called for the observance of the flag on June fourteen of that year. People in many different communities celebrated that day after President Wilson’s proclamation, but it wasn’t an official holiday until nineteen forty-nine.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Introduction The Haymarket Square Riot took place on May 4, 1886 in Chicago Illinois. In the United States, the labor unions have an extensive and compelling history increasingly developing the world’s largest economy in history, the union movement influence in many significant ways to this unparalleled expansion. The unions have delivered numbers of achievements to American workers. Some achievements include to a safe and intolerant work environment, collective bargaining power, the right hour workday, no child labor, wage standards, political guidance and much more.…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The theme I find the most prevalent in the change in the role of government between the Gilded Age and end of the 1920’s was the government interaction with the economy. From President Grant to President Coolidge we went from a government that had absolutely no involvement in the economy what-so-ever to one that had a significant amount of regulation over it. I believe the driving force behind this was President Woodrow Wilson signing off on the Federal Reserve Act in December of 1913. This act gave the government power over the amount of currency in circulation. This is a big jump from the Laissez Faire government from the gilded age.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4th, 1926. In 1938, it was made a legal federal holiday for all. However, after…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The American industrial worker was heavily impacted by the technology changes, the increase in immigration, and the creation of labor unions that happened between 1865 and 1900. The development of new technology in communication, steel production, and transportation led to the creation of new businesses and jobs, and it helped many existing businesses expand. This increase of businesses resulted in more jobs, and this influenced many people from other countries to migrate to America. The increase in employment gave American industrial workers a better way of living, but the working conditions were not ideal. Labor laws didn’t exist to protect the workers, and this led to the creation of labor unions that fought for labor laws.…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Year-Round School Calendar

    • 1380 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In a year-round school, it may be hard to maintain a job or travel with family in the one month of summer that the school gives students as their summer break. Laura Kelsey, author of “Should You Give Up Summer Vacation” claims, “year-round schools have roughly the same number of vacation days as traditional school calendars” (Kelsey 28). The traditional school calendar gives students 3 months of summer vacation, allowing students and teachers a much needed break. Some would argue that those summer months are the downfall to losing some of the material taught in the previous year of school. However, Kelsey also states, “Learning doesn’t have to stop for kids on long summer breaks.…

    • 1380 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Comparisons between Halloween and Dia de los Muertos By: Bryan Garcia Countries have different cultures and celebrations, but they all celebrate unique holidays. There are holidays that celebrate the dead, or celebrate the end of the harvest season. The holidays that represent these celebrations, Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, are similar and different in their own way.…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A Time of Rebellion The 1830’s through 1861 was a time of rebellion and progress. When Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical mower it increased the efficiency of wheat farming. The Market Revolution brought railways, new farming systems and an increased need for labor. Wheat farming, cotton trading, and industrial factories were expanding. Slaves did more work than ever before and rights of people were ignored.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Since the industrial revolution began industrial workers have greatly important to the survival of America’s economy. The lives of the American industrial workers have always been hard, but between 1865 and 1900 they lives were made both easier and harder due to the impact of technological changes, immigration, and labor unions. The American industrial workers were impacted between 1865 and 1900 by technological changes. Technology made doing certain jobs easier and faster to accomplish so more could be made in less time. Due to the creation of electricity and lamps work could be done at all hours.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “What just happened, why is Mason crying!” Many thoughts were going through my head during the toughest moment of my life. It was the 4th of July, and I was having a great time at a friend's house, nothing bad could ever happen, right? concussions are not a real struggle for many people, but for me they are about as real as it gets. Many do not worry about their health, but this scare brought it into a whole new light for me.…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the words of Ronald Reagan, one of the most respected US Presidents: “Republicans believe that every day is the fourth of July, but the democrats believe that every day is April 15”. This statement made by him implies that he believes that Republican conservatives believe that every day is the 4th of July which is the celebration of our independence, and Democrats believe that every day is tax day, which is a day where the government can come and seize your property. On that note, I am arguing the fact that we need a republican president to serve the next term. This topic is important because it shows the kind of image that the next president should portray and the mark he or she should leave for the next generation. Our last president…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The quote, “Britain is a nation divided by class whereas the US continues to be a classless society” is only partially true; both Great Britain (GB) and the United States of America (USA) are divided by social classes. However, at one point in time, roughly about the late 1900’s, the quote was highly debatable. The United States of America and other countries thought that there was little class differentiation in the USA and the social class system consisted mostly of the middle class. Michael Zweig’s “The Working Class Majority: America’s Best Kept Secret,” published in 2000, is a great example of why it was a controversy and how class systems existed in the USA even then.…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Four Day School Week Essay

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Do you think that a four day school week would be beneficial to students and teachers? A four day school week would mean longer days, but a shorter week. This would give students and teachers an extra day added to their weekend. Research proves that a four day school week would be beneficial to students and teachers. A four day school week is beneficial for the schools financial gain.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    No one wants to give up their summer break for anything, especially school. Children enjoy their summer, it is the time they can do whatever with no interruption, like run outside all day, swim, or hang out with friends. Many teenagers have summer responsibilities, bailing hay, for example, is an all-day activity and is easier to start in the morning so it is not too hot and teenagers cannot bail hay for their parents or some old man who needs help if they have to be at school. With no teenagers making hay, for old men who need help, who is going to do it? Summer is also a time for families to visit other family members out of state or go on family vacations together, they cannot go on vacation with school taking up that time.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays