The Biggest Uprisings in American History

America has a lengthy history of revolts that dates back to the Colonial era. Protests and uprisings have been used by Americans to challenge unjust laws, draw attention to inequity, and demand social change. We often consider only the civil rights movement; however, America’s history is littered with several cases of events of its kind. Some may not have achieved their goals but they certainly helped to bring about change.  \r \r 1. The May Day Strike\r \r Anyone who complains that the workweek as we know it is tough should count their lucky stars that they weren’t around during the early Industrial Era. Hadn’t it been for the May Day strike that occurred in 1886, Americans may still be drained from working fourteen-hour shifts, seven days a week. Employees in several major cities organized strikes and walk-outs. To demand the implementation of an average eight-hour workday, 350,000 employees conducted a national work stoppage on May 1, 1886. Much violence was experienced. States and corporations eventually gave in to the demands. This led to a reconfiguration of labor protection. May Day is celebrated worldwide.\r \r 2. Richmond Bread Riots\r \r Three years into the Civil War, life grew quite challenging for the civilians of the Confederacy. Many Southern communities saw massive uprisings as a result of having their supply routes cut off and skyrocketing costs. One of the largest was the bread riot which began in Richmond, Virginia. After being ignored by the governor, a group of women went to one of the main streets of the city, seized a number of supply wagons, and looted food stores. They were soon joined by scores of half-starved rioters.\r \r 3. Battle of Athens\r \r A group of veterans and irate residents engaged the municipal administration of Athens, Tennessee, in battle in 1946. The little agricultural hamlet had been ruled by a corrupt political system for most of the 1940s. Its leader was sheriff and lawmaker, Paul Cantrell, who was infamous for election fraud. Before the arrival of hundreds of young soldiers from World War II in Athens in 1945, corruption was rampant. Many veterans ran for local office. On Election Day on August 1, 1946, the veterans stood against Cantrell’s voting fraud and a battle ensued. The veterans were later declared winners of the elections and they worked to restructure local government and clean up the corruption that existed.  \r \r 4. Shay’s Rebellion\r \r There was an economic crisis in the United States after the Revolutionary War. Overtaxed farmers in Massachusetts were losing their property to debt collectors, which heightened tensions there. Mass protests were staged all around the state in September 1786 by a tiny army of irate residents. The rebels, led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, finally armed themselves and started blocking county court sessions in an effort to reduce property seizures. Massachusetts governor deployed 1,200 military men and a battle ensued.  The uprising had an impact on the Constitutional Convention's decision to accept a strong central government.\r \r 5. Whiskey Rebellion\r \r This rebellion was a result of a tax imposed on distilled spirits which many distillers opposed. This levy was the first occasion the government had taxed a domestic good. Many distillers believed it violated the revolutionary idea of "no taxation without representation." Tension grew and in July 1794, 500 armed men invaded the home of a tax collector in Western Pennsylvania. In response, President George Washington sent 13,000 troops and peace mediators to quell the uprising. The insurrection showed the former colonists that the government was capable of enforcing the law and putting a stop to violent protests against them.