First US trade union formed

First US trade union formed

May 1, 2010 04:00:00 am

On May 1, 1794, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (shoemakers) was organized in Philadelphia to negotiate wages for its members, becoming the first trade union in the United States.

Learn more about the history of the labor movement in the United States, and visit the website of the AFL-CIO, the federation of America’s labor unions, representing more than 13 million workers.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court heard New York Times v. Sullivan

On January 6, 1964, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the free speech/free press case of New York Times v. Sullivan. Columbia Law School professor Herbert Wechsler argued for the petitioner. Listen to the oral arguments on Oyez, the Supreme Court multimedia database at Northwestern University.

Charles I of England put on trial

On January 6, 1649, the Parliament of England voted to put Charles I on trial for high treason following the English Civil War. Prior to the vote, a group of soldiers purged Parliament of Members they believed would vote in the King's favor, creating the Rump Parliament. The Rump Parliament then voted on January 6 to create the High Court of Justice, which would serve as the body to try King Charles. He was convicted on January 27 and finally executed on January 30 of that same year.

Learn more about the trial of King Charles I of England.