Final answer:
The Haymarket Riot was a pivotal event that both hindered the labor movement short term due to harsh public backlash and decreased union membership but contributed to long-term labor reforms like the eight-hour workday.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Haymarket Riot, or Haymarket affair, was a significant event in the history of the American labor movement. On May 4, 1886, what began as a peaceful rally in support of the eight-hour workday ended in violence and bloodshed when a bomb was thrown at police. This led to a crackdown on labor groups such as the Knights of Labor (KOL), whose membership and influence declined sharply as a result of the incident. The press coverage following the riot also played a critical role, as negative portrayals reinforced public suspicion of labor unions, associating them with anarchy and violence.
While the Haymarket Riot did show the power of workers to organize and demand changes, the aftermath had a largely detrimental impact on the labor movement. The immediate consequence was a turn of public opinion against labor unions, severe repression from authorities, and the martyrdom of those hanged for the incident, considered by many activists to be wrongful convictions. Nonetheless, the ideals that sparked the rally, such as the eight-hour workday, eventually became a part of mainstream labor policy in the United States.
Although the Haymarket Riot initially hindered the labor movement due to the backlash and the fear it engendered among the public, it also laid the groundwork for future labor rights by drawing attention to workers' demands. Eventually, as labor activism continued, the long-term goals of better working conditions and shorter work hours were realized, suggesting that the event, while a setback, did not halt the progress of the labor movement entirely.