Labor History

Today in Labor History April 19, 1506: Catholics tortured and burned hundreds of Jews in what became known as The Lisbon Massacre. This occurred thirty years before the Portuguese Inquisition and nine years after Jews were forced to convert by King Manuel I. The massacre occurred during a drought and a plague epidemic. It started […]

Today in Labor History April 18, 1787: The U.S. Constitutional Convention passed the three-fifths compromise. This was the first time the government codified treating African-Americans as human (partially). But this was only for tax purposes and to determine the number of seats in the House of Representatives. Free blacks counted as a full citizen. Today

Today in Labor History April 17, 1617: Armed women attacked 53 Scottish monks and burned them alive in their refectory. They sought revenge for being cheated out of their pasture rights on the Isle of Eigg. 1800s April 17, 1824: Slavery was abolished in Central America. Today in Labor History April 17, 1854: American individualist

Today in Labor History April 16, 1520: The Revolt of the Comuneros began on this date in Spain. The social elites of Castile rose up against King Charles I. They were fearful that the Flemish-raised king would not support their interests. However, the uprising quickly took on a radical anti-feudal character, with peasants rising up

1800s Today in Labor History April 15, 1834: “Bloody Week” ended in Lyon, France, with a blood bath against insurgent silk workers. As a result, several hundred were killed. April 15, 1889: A. Philip Randolph was born on this day. He was a labor organizer and president of the African-American Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.