One Bomb Changed the Labor Movement — The Haymarket Affair (1886)
May 4, 1886. Chicago. A bomb exploded at a labor rally. Eight people died. The bomber was never identified. But eight labor activists were hanged anyway.
Eight Hours
Spring 1886. Workers across America had one demand.
An eight-hour workday.
The average workday was 10 to 12 hours. Children worked in factories too.
May 1st — 350,000 workers went on strike. The first May Day in history.
May 4, Haymarket Square
Chicago. Haymarket Square.
3,000 people gathered for a rally. It was peaceful.
Rain began to fall. The crowd thinned to about 300.
Police ordered them to disperse.
Then a bomb flew out of the crowd.
The Explosion
Seven police officers died. One civilian died.
In the chaos, police fired into the crowd. Dozens were wounded.
The person who threw the bomb was never identified.
The Trial
Police arrested eight labor leaders.
There was no evidence linking them to the bomb. Nobody knew who threw it.
The jury was composed entirely of businessmen and pro-business figures.
All eight were found guilty. Four were hanged. One died by suicide in prison. Three received life sentences.
Exoneration
- Illinois Governor John Altgeld declared the trial unjust.
He pardoned the three surviving prisoners.
Altgeld lost his next election.
The Haymarket affair became the origin of International Workers' Day — May 1st — observed around the world.
Date: May 4, 1886 | Deaths: 7 police, 1 civilian | Executed: 4 | Pardoned: 1893
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