Untitled Flashcards Set

Great Railroad Strike of 1877:

• Location: West Virginia, specifically Martinsburg.

• Participants:

  • Initially, miners and railroad workers.

  • The strike garnered widespread support from various segments of the population.

• Cause: Wage cuts implemented by railroad companies.

• Workers protested against long work hours coupled with low wages.

• Impact:

  • The strike escalated into a nationwide event, marked by violence.

  • Approximately 100 people lost their lives during the strike.

• Resolution: Authorities and railroad companies responded forcefully to suppress the strikes and restore order.

Haymarket Riot of 1886:

• Location: Chicago

• Participants: Protesters and individuals working in the vicinity of the square.

• Cause: Demand for a shorter workday, specifically an 8-hour workday, as opposed to the prevailing 14-hour shifts.

• Impact:

  • Numerous fatalities occurred, including both protesters and police officers, due to a bomb explosion.

  • The Knights of Labor faced decline as they became associated with violence.

Homestead Strike of 1892:

• Location: Homestead, Pennsylvania

• Participants: Steelworkers

• Cause: Wage cuts amounting to 20%, leading to workers initiating a walkout.

• Management responded by locking out the workers.

• Events:

  • The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was hired, resulting in violent clashes.

  • Approximately 30 workers were killed, with numerous others injured.

• Outcome: The union's efforts ultimately failed as workers eventually conceded to the company's demands.

Pullman Strike of 1894:

• Location: Pullman, near Chicago, Illinois

• Leadership: Led by Eugene V. Debs.

• Participants: Employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company.

• Cause:

  • Pullman laid off half of its 5,800 employees

  • Cut wages by 25%-50%.

  • Employee housing costs remained unchanged, exacerbating financial strain.

• Events:

  • The strike commenced, prompting Pullman to hire strikebreakers to maintain train operations.

  • Escalating violence ensued.

  • President Grover Cleveland deployed federal troops to ensure uninterrupted train movement, marking federal intervention.

• Outcome: The strike lost momentum, leading to the collapse of the union's boycott.