The early 1800’s saw the first developments of the labor movement in the United States. In 1827 in Philadelphia, an organization of workers of more than one craft created citywide concerted action and in the 1830’s organizations were fighting for free education and against monopolies. However, it was in 1834 that the movement really began with the formation of the National Trades Union, as they tried to battle market competition (which drove down wages and drove up work) and immigration (that brought competition from cheap labor.)
There were some gains in the 1800’s, but most were short-lived. Laws creating 10-hour workdays were passed by many states in the mid-1800’s, but there were so many loopholes that the laws accomplished little. Businesses continued to "import" labor as if it was a commodity.
In 1866 in Baltimore, labor united in the form of the National Labor Congress to put political pressure for the creation of a department of labor, an 8-hour workday, and immigration restrictions, but it was not a success. However, things would pick up steam in the 20th century thanks to organizations born just before the turn of the century, such as the American Federation of Labor, under the leadership of people such as Samuel Gompers.