| 1848: |
Pennsylvania became the first state to set a minimum age for factory
work - age 12, and also restricted the work day to ten hours and limited the work week to 60 hours |
| 1868: |
The Molly Maguires, a secret terrorist organization, perpetrated
several murders in the anthracite coal fields until the leaders were arrested |
| 1869: |
The Knights of Labor formed in Philadelphia |
| 1872: |
Act of April 12, 1872, created the Bureau of Labor Statistics under
the control of former Pennsylvania representative and abolitionist Thomas J. Bigham |
| 1874: |
Act of May 11, 1874, abolished the Bureau of Labor Statistics and
Created the Bureau of Industrial Statistics under the Department of Internal Affairs |
| 1875: |
The Long Strike of 1875 occurred |
| 1876: |
The first organized protest against child labor in Pennsylvania was
led by the Knights of Labor and Workingmen’s party in Philadelphia |
| 1877: |
Railroad riots in Pittsburgh occurred |
| 1878: |
Pennsylvania's Standard Oil Company controlled 90% of the nation's
refining capacity |
| 1880: |
The Pennsylvania Railroad, with 30,000 employees and $400 million
in capital, was the world's largest corporation |
| 1883: |
Samuel Gompers founded the labor union that later became the American
Federation of Labor (AFL) |
| 1889: |
Factory Act of May 20, 1889, created the Office of Factory Inspection
to judge the safety of industrial establishments and check for violations of child labor laws |
| 1890: |
Sherman Anti-trust Act was passed |
| 1890: |
United Mine Workers organized |
| 1892: |
The homestead strike at Carnegie’s steel mill occurred |
| 1895: |
Compulsory Education Act mandated that children between 8 and 13
years old attend school for at least four months per year |
| 1897: |
Major coal workers strike organized by the United Mine Workers (UMW)
led to the establishment of the 8 hour work day and wage increases |
| 1899: |
The Factory Inspector had over 20 deputy inspectors in 20 districts |
