13. The Haymarket Affair (1886)
The Haymarket Affair began as a peaceful rally for workers’ rights in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, but turned violent when a bomb exploded among police, sparking chaos and bloodshed. The incident led to harsh crackdowns on labor activists and a controversial trial that stirred national debate. Despite the backlash, Haymarket became a symbol of the struggle for fair labor laws and inspired the global labor movement.
