On June 25, 1868, Congress passed an act that established an eight hour work day for anyone employed by the federal government. In May 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant issued a proclamation directing that wages for this eight-hour workday would not be reduced because of the reduction of hours. This act of Congress and presidential proclamation encouraged workers in private industry to lobby for a shorter workday, although it would be many years before it happened.
Grant, Ulysses S. “Eight-Hour Proclamation.” Greenfield Gazette and Courier, May 24, 1869. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l05-123/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.