Besides looking forward to a fun final summer weekend, Labor Day affords us one more opportunity to reflect and reassess before busy fall schedules “kick in.” I was reading about the history of work in the United States and was so impressed with our humble beginnings. What made the USA into an industrial powerhouse? Hard work, plain and simple.
Work’s Humble Beginnings
We were a country of butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers (so to speak). Blacksmiths crafted essential items, including farm implements, sewing needles, pots, horseshoes, and gun parts. Don’t forget their “car parts,” also known as wagon wheels.
The Changing Work Environment
Other developments rapidly changed the working environment in the United States:
1790-Samuel Slater opened the first factory, a cotton spinning mill.
1789-President George Washington signed the Tariff Act of 1789 into law on July 4. The purpose of this law was to encourage Americans to buy American goods rather than the more expensive foreign European goods
1794 – A patent was granted for the cotton gin, a machine that cleaned seeds out of cotton, which raised production and eliminated a painful, tedious job.
1794- The shoemakers formed the first union.
1860- Prior to the Civil War, there was tension between the South, with an agricultural economy, and the North, with a manufacturing economy. The South farmed. The North built things in factories, making goods cheaper. Most of the tariffs were imposed on goods that entered through southern ports, and many of these goods were used in manufacturing, fueling friction between the North and South.
1886- President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty, the site that welcomed all immigrants coming to the United States. These immigrants brought with them a work ethic that emphasized self-discipline and saving money, while minimizing self-indulgence. There was no government welfare system, so these prospective citizens knew they had to support themselves with no “safety net” available.
Hard Work and Prosperity
This rich history led us to be the most prosperous country in the world in the shortest amount of time.
As we celebrate Labor Day with barbecues, beaches, and back-to-school plans, let’s take a few moments to reflect on the meaning of work in our lives. What have you contributed to our country or hope to contribute through your hard work?
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship 🇺🇸
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