November 2021

1700s Today in Labor History November 30, 1786: The Grand Duchy of Tuscany, under Pietro Leopoldo I, abolished the death penalty, becoming the first modern state to do so. 1800s-1830s Today in Labor History November 30, 1803: The Balmis Expedition left Spain to vaccinate millions against smallpox in Spanish America and Philippines. The mission lasted from 1803 to 1806. The Spanish brought smallpox to the […]

1700s Today in Labor History November 29, 1781: The crew of the British slave ship Zong slaughtered over 130 enslaved Africans. According to the crew, the ship ran low on drinking water after several navigational blunders. Consequently, they threw the insured slaves overboard. However, when the insurers refused to pay, the slavers sued. On appeal, the judges, ruled against

1840s Today in Labor History November 28, 1843: The United Kingdom and France officially recognized the Kingdom of Hawaii as an independent nation. Consequently, Hawaiians now celebrate the date as Ka Lā Hui (Hawaiian Independence Day). In 1795, chief Kamehameha, of Hawaiʻi, conquered and unified the independent islands of Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. The U.S. became its chief trading partner and “protector” to prevent other foreign

Today in Labor History November 27, 1835: The British authorities hanged James Pratt and John Smith in London. The British stopped executing people for sodomy after this. Today in Labor History November 27, 1868: Ignoring orders to kill only warriors, an Army contingent, led by General Custer, massacred at least 150 Cheyenne in their sleep, including women

Today in Labor History November 26, 1883: Abolitionist, women’s rights activist and former slave Sojourner Truth died on this date in Battle Creek, Michigan. She escaped slavery in 1826 and then sued her former master in 1828 to win the freedom of her son. She won the lawsuit, making her the first black woman to