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1866
National Labor Union passes a resolution calling for an eight-hour work day. -
1867
Illinois enacts the nation's first eight-hour law, but employers refuse to comply and the law is rendered meaningless. -
1878
Albert Parsons becomes secretary of Chicago's Eight-Hour League. -
May First 1886
100,000 American workers go on strike in support of the eight-hour workday. The strike day ends peacefully in Chicago, where German anarchists toast their "Emancipation Day." -
May third 1886
While Spies speaks, police attack demonstrators with clubs and bullets at McCormick’s Reaper Works. Spies writes a circular (the “Revenge Circular”) urging a militant response to the death of "six brothers." In the evening, 8-hour leaders meet at Grief's Hall to discuss strategy. Prosecutors will later describe this meeting, attended by Engel and Fischer, the "Monday Night Conspiracy." -
May fourth 1886
Louis Lingg and William Seliger make 30 to 50 bombs. They later transport them to Nepf’s Hall....At 7:30 PM, a rally to protest the violent attack on demonstrators at McCormicks and support the eight-hour day begins at Haymarket in Chicago. At 8:15, August Spies arrives at the rally. At 8:30, Albert Parsons arrives at the meeting of the American Group. A half hour later, he begins speaking at the Haymarket. He speaks for about an hour, and then leaves for Zepf's Hall. Samuel Fielden begins -
August 20 1886
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. -
October 7, 1886
Appeal is denied; the execution date is set for December 3, 1886. -
September 14, 1887
The Illinois Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s ruling. November 11, 1887 is the date set for the defendants’ execution. -
November 11, 1887
Spies, Parson, Fielden, and Engel are hanged at noon.
