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Jamestwon Colony
English planters discovered Jamestown colony in Virginia on the banks of the James River. These planters complained about lack of laborers. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon lead the servants and slaves in Virginia against the rule of Willian Berkeley. On this day, they burned down Jamestown. -
Boston Tea Party
Laborers protest royal taxation in the Boston Tea Party. These laborers seized 342 chests of tea and threw them into the harbor. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution begins. It was a revolution for America's independence. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls women's rights convention took place. It lasted for two days. This convention was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. -
Great Shoemaker's Strike
Shoemakers in New England went on a strike against their employers. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation which states that all slaves shall be free. -
13th Amendment to the Constitution
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, is ratified. -
National Labor Union (Unknown Month and Day)
National Labor Union, the first national labor federation in America, was founded. -
15th Amendment to the Consitution
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution, which states that the right to vote shall not be abrogated by color, was adopted. -
First Labor Day Parade
About 10,000 workers joined together in New York City in the first Labor Day Parade. -
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was founded. -
Women's Trade Union League (Unknown Month and Day)
The Women's Trade Union League was formed by Jane Addams, Mary Anderson and other trade unionists at the AFL convention. -
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World was founded in Chicago. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York was caught on fire killing about 150 workers. -
World War I
The United States enters World War I in the side of the Allies. -
19th Amendment to the Constitution
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which grants women the right to vote, was ratified. -
Railway Labor Act
The Railway Labor Act was signed by President Coolidge. This Act set up procedures to settle railway labor disputes and forbids discrimination against union members. -
Davis-Bacon Act
The Davis-Bacon Act was signed by President Hoover. It provides for prevailing wages on publicly funded construction projects -
Norris-LaGuardia Act
The Norris-LaGuardia Act was passed. It prohibits federal injunctions in most labor disputes. -
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Committee for Industrial Organization
National Labor Relations Act (July 6, 1935) and Social Security Act (August 14, 1935) passed Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) (November 9, 1935) formed within AFL. -
Committee for Industrial Organization
National Labor Relations Act (July 6, 1935) and Social Security Act (August 14, 1935) passed Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) formed within AFL. -
Labor's Non-Partisan League (Unknown Day)
AFL and CIO create labor's Non-Partisan League and help President Roosevelt win re-election to a second term. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
Fair Labor Standards Act establishes first minimum wage and 40-hour week Congress of industrial Organizations forms as an independent federation -
US troops enter WWII; National War Labor Union (Unknown Month and Day)
U.S. troops enter combat in World War II National War Labor Board created with union members. -
Taft-Hartley Act
Taft-Hartley Act restricts union members' activities. -
Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act
The Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act, was passed. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act was passed. It bans institutional forms of racial discrimination. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. ; Sanitation Workers Strike
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., during sanitation workers' strike. -
Occupational Safety and Health Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed by President Nixon. -
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (Unknown Day)
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists formed. It was formed by William Lucy, Nelson Edwards, William Simons, Charles Hayes and Cleveland Robinson. -
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement was founded. -
Coalition of Labor Union Women
The Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded. -
Alliance for Retired Americans (Unknown Day)
AFL-CIO launches Alliance for Retired Americans to recruit activists and mobilize older Americans. -
Industrial Union Council (Unknown Day)
The AFL-CIO forms the Industrial Union Council (IUC) to revitalize manufacturing, combat destructive international trade agreements, and defend workers’ rights. -
Employee Free Choice Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Employee Free Choice Act with a vote of 241-185. -
Union Veterans Council (Unknown Day)
The AFL-CIO establishes the Union Veterans Council.
