Today in History: Eight-Hour Work Day

Eight hour strike
Today in History–August 20–the Library of Congress features the eight-hour work day, which the National Labor Union advocated Congress for on this day in 1866. Although the National Labor Union congressional efforts failed, they were able to heighten public awareness of labor issues and increase support for labor reform in the subsequent decades.  Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related primary resources.

Eight-hour work day image set

Eight-hour work day books & articles

National Labor Union work day historical newspaper coverage 1866-73

Eight-hour work day historical newspaper coverage 1866-73

Eight-hour work day historical newspaper coverage 1874-1914

Topics in Chronicling America – Eight Hour Day 1915-17

Work day oral histories

Primary Source Spotlight: Labor

Primary Source Learning: Labor