1300s Today in Labor History May 30, 1381: Tax collector John Bampton sparked the Peasants’ Revolt in Brentwood, Essex. The mass uprising, also known as Wat Tyler’s Rebellion, or the Great Rising, began because of attempts to collect a poll tax. However, tensions were already high because of the economic misery and hunger caused by […]

Today in Labor History May 29, 1798: The British authorities executed 300-500 members of the United Irishmen because of their role in the recent Irish Rebellion. 1830s-1850s May 29, 1830: Anarchist Louise Michel, was born in Vroncourt, France. Michel, also known as The Red Virgin, was a leader of the Paris Commune. Today in Labor

Louise Michel, anarchist revolutionary, was born today, May 29, 1830, in Vroncourt, France. Also known as The Red Virgin, Michel was a leader of the Paris Commune. After her return from exile, she became a leading anarchist organizer and speaker. She is believed to be the first person to use the black flag as an

The Conspiracy of Equals Today in Labor History May 28, 1797: French authorities executed proto-anarchist revolutionary Gracchus Babeuf. Babeuf formed a secret society, known as the Conspiracy of the Equals, that plotted to overthrow the revolutionary government, with one that was truer to Jacobin ideals. The group included Sylvain Maréchal, Jacques Roux, Jean Varlet and