Explore the History of Labor Day Essays on the History of the Labor Movement These essays were written by high school students in preparation for the Advanced Placement US History Exam. Their task was to explain public opinion of and government reaction toward the rise of the labor movement in the late nineteenth century. Original source material, such as newspaper cartoons and headlines, has been scanned in, and is available by following the linked references. A Curriculum of United States Labor History for Teachers, sponsored by the Illinois Labor History Society The United States has the bloodiest history of labor of any industrialized nation on Earth. It is a story rich in human drama and tragedy. It is also one of progress and hope. This is a resource that teachers of United States history can use to incorporate our rich social and labor history into their courses. The History of Labor Day Labor Day: How it came about; what it means, brought to you by the U.S. Department of Labor. An Eclectic List of Events in U.S. Labor History