How was the Pullman strike 1894 resolved? Government Crushes the Strike On July 2, 1894, the federal government got an injunction in federal court which ordered an end to the strike. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was an American politician and lawyer who was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office. He won the popular vote for three presidential elections—in 1884, 1888, and 1892—…
How did the government respond to the Pullman Strike?
How did the federal government respond to the Pullman Strike? The federal government obtained an injunction against the union, Debs, and other boycott leaders, ordering them to stop interfering with trains that carried mail cars. After the strikers refused, President Grover Cleveland ordered in the Army to stop the strikers from obstructing the ...
Which was a direct result of the Pullman Strike?
Which was a direct result of the Pullman Strike? The Pullman company began to lay off workers and cut wages. The Pullman company banned alcohol in its company town. American Railway Union leader Eugene Debs was hired by the Pullman company. American Railway Union leader Eugene Debs was arrested.
What caused the Pullman Strike?
What Caused The Pullman Strike? The panic of 1893 was the worst depression Americans had ever endured. George Pullman responded by firing workers and cutting wages for those who remained by about 30 percent. Rents in the company town, however, stayed the same. Pullman workers walked home with poverty wages after the company deducted their rent.
What did the Pullman strike ended with?
What did the Pullman strike ended with? On July 20, 1894, the strike ended. Less than two weeks later, the Pullman Company reopened their doors, agreeing to rehire the striking workers on one condition — they would sign a pledge to never join a union. What happened to Eugene Debs during the Pullman strike?
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Why did the Pullman strike happen?
Among the reasons for the strike were the absence of democracy within the town of Pullman and its politics, the rigid paternalistic control of the workers by the company, excessive water and gas rates, and a refusal by the company to allow workers to buy and own houses. They had not yet formed a union.
What was the Pullman strike?
The Pullman Strike was two interrelated strikes in 1894 that shaped national labor policy in the United States during a period of deep economic depression.
Why did Pullman cut wages?
During a severe recession (the Panic of 1893 ), the Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages as demand for new passenger cars plummeted and the company's revenue dropped. A delegation of workers complained that wages had been cut but not rents at their company housing or other costs in the company town.
What was the significance of the railroad boycott?
The nationwide railroad boycott that lasted from May 11 to July 20, 1894, was a turning point for US labor law. It pitted the American Railway Union (ARU) against the Pullman Company, the main railroads, the main labor unions, and the federal government of the United States under President Grover Cleveland.
When did the Debs strike begin?
Debs began the boycott on June 26, 1894. Within four days, 125,000 workers on twenty-nine railroads had "walked off" the job rather than handle Pullman cars. The railroads coordinated their response through the General Managers' Association, which had been formed in 1886 and included 24 lines linked to Chicago.
When did the Pullman strike start?
First came a strike by the American Railway Union (ARU) against the Pullman factory in Chicago in spring 1894. When it failed the ARU launched a national boycott against all trains that carried Pullman passenger cars. This action stopped most of the passenger and freight trains west of Detroit.
What happened on July 7, 1894?
Violence erupted on July 7, 1894, with hundreds of boxcars and coal cars looted and burned. State and federal troops violently attacked striking workers, as this study by Frederic Remington illustrates. Under direction from President Grover Cleveland, the US Attorney General Richard Olney dealt with the strike.
Pullman Strike of 1894 Significance
While the Pullman strike was ultimately a failure, it had two significant consequences that impacted the American working class. The strike convinced Debs that nothing could improve the environment for laborers unless it involved a hand in government.
Pullman Strike 1894 - Key takeaways
The Panic of 1893 and the following economic depression influenced George Pullman to slash wages by almost 25% but kept rent incredibly high.
How much money did the Pullman workers lose?
Striking workers had lost more than $1 million in wages. Pullman workers largely lost the sympathy of the public as well, with many anxious about outbreaks in violence as well as disruptions in rail traffic. The mainstream press criticized Debs and labor in general.
What union helped Pullman?
The American Railway Union agreed to assist Pullman workers. Switchmen who were members of the ARU refused to handle Pullman cars, which disrupted the rail network. This initial boycott led to widespread strikes among the nation’s railroad workers.
What did the press criticize about the Debs strike?
The mainstream press criticized Debs and labor in general. President Cleveland and Congress did make one conciliatory gesture toward the labor movement during the strike, however. The strike prompted Cleveland to propose a bill to make Labor Day a national holiday. Cleveland signed the bill into law on June 28, 1894.
Who was involved in the ARU strike?
Since the protest had affected federal government business, U.S. President Grover Cleveland and his cabinet got involved in the strike. Attorney General Richard Olney obtained an injunction against the ARU. President Cleveland sent in federal troops to handle strikers, which led to violence.
Why did President Cleveland send in federal troops?
President Cleveland sent in federal troops to handle strikers, which led to violence.
What was the Pullman Strike?
The Pullman Strike of 1894 was a milestone in American labor history, as the widespread strike by railroad workers brought business to a standstill across large parts of the nation until the federal government took unprecedented action to end the strike.
Who was the leader of the American Railway Union during the Pullman Strike?
The strike was an intensely bitter battle between workers and company management, as well as between two major characters, George Pullman, owner of the company making railroad passenger cars, and Eugene V. Debs, leader of the American Railway Union. The significance of the Pullman Strike was enormous.
Why did Pullman close his factory?
Outraged by the strike at his factor y, Pullman closed the plant, determined to wait out the workers. Pullman's stubborn strategy might have worked except the A.R.U. members called on the national membership to get involved. The union's national convention voted to refuse to work on any train in the country that had a Pullman car, which brought the nation's passenger rail service to a standstill
What was the name of the railroad company that Pullman built?
Pullman's cars became popular with the railroads, and in 1867 he formed the Pullman Palace Car Company .
How did George Pullman die?
As for George Pullman, the strike and the violent reaction to it forever diminished his reputation. He died of a heart attack on Oct. 18, 1897. He was buried in a Chicago cemetery and tons of concrete were poured over his grave.
How did the Panic of 1893 affect the economy?
Things changed dramatically with the Panic of 1893, a severe financial depression that affected the American economy. Pullman cut the wages of workers by one third, but he refused to lower the rents in the company housing.
Why did the federal government use the courts to suppress strikes?
In the 1890s, the threat of more violence inhibited union activity, and companies and government entities relied on the courts to suppress strikes.
When did the Pullman strike end?
Typically, strikes ended when the government applied its power against the unions. One strike in particular, the Pullman strike of 1894, was especially important in American perceptions of "the labor problem" of the time.
What were the consequences of the Pullman Strike?
First, these events convinced Debs that the lives of American workers would never improve unless they controlled governmental power through their strength of numbers in elections.
What was the effect of the Pullman strike on Eugene Debs?
The events of the strike led other Americans to begin a quest for achieving more harmonious relations between capital and labor while protecting the public interest.
What was the purpose of Pullman's town?
Pullman publicized his company town as a model community filled with contented, well-paid workers. The Pullman workers, however disagreed, especially after the onset of the economic depression that begain in 1893. During that depression, Pullman sought to preserve profits by lowering labor costs.
Why did the American workers strike?
Sometimes economic grievances--low pay, and, especially, long hours--led to strikes. Sometimes the conflicts were more subtle, as managers tried to increase their control over the work process. Usually, the basic issue was the right of workers to have unions and to engage in collective bargaining. Typically, strikes ended when the government applied its power against the unions. One strike in particular, the Pullman strike of 1894, was especially important in American perceptions of "the labor problem" of the time. The Pullman strike brought Eugene Debs national attention, and it led directly to his conversion to socialism. The events of the strike led other Americans to begin a quest for achieving more harmonious relations between capital and labor while protecting the public interest.
Did the railroads refuse to operate mail trains?
The passenger trains also hauled mail cars, and although the workers promised to operate mail trains so long as Pullman cars were not attached, the railroads refused. Pullman and the carriers informed federal officials that violence was occurring and that the mail was not going through.
Who was the leader of the Pullman strike?
The American Railway Union (ARU), led by Eugene Debs, was trying to organize rail workers all across the country. The Pullman workers joined the ARU, and Debs became the leader of the Pullman strike. The ARU enjoyed wide influence among the workers who operated trains.
Why did the Pullman strike happen?from en.wikipedia.org
Among the reasons for the strike were the absence of democracy within the town of Pullman and its politics, the rigid paternalistic control of the workers by the company, excessive water and gas rates, and a refusal by the company to allow workers to buy and own houses. They had not yet formed a union.
What was the ARU plan for the Pullman workers?from britannica.com
One plan was to refuse to hitch Pullman cars to trains and to unhitch those that were already attached. Another idea was a boycott: ARU members would refuse to handle Pullman cars or any trains with Pullman cars until the railroads severed their ties with the Pullman Company.
What happened to the ARU after the strike?from en.wikipedia.org
Violence broke out in many cities, and the strike collapsed. Defended by a team including Clarence Darrow, Debs was convicted of violating a court order and sentenced to prison; the ARU then dissolved.
How many telegrams did Debs send to the ARU?from britannica.com
During the first week of the boycott he sent some 4,000 telegrams, hundreds every day, urging the ARU locals to stay calm and not to overreact.
What was the Supreme Court ruling in the Debs strike?from en.wikipedia.org
Civil as well as criminal charges were brought against the organizers of the strike and Debs in particular, and the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision, In re Debs, that rejected Debs' actions. The Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld was incensed at Cleveland for putting the federal government at the service of the employers, and for rejecting Altgeld's plan to use his state militia rather than federal troops to keep order.
Why was Debs arrested?from en.wikipedia.org
Debs was arrested on federal charges, including conspiracy to obstruct the mail as well as disobeying an order directed to him by the Supreme Court to stop the obstruction of railways and to dissolve the boycott. He was defended by Clarence Darrow, a prominent attorney, as well as Lyman Trumbull.
What caused the 1894 Chicago strike?from en.wikipedia.org
Cleveland's administration appointed a national commission to study the causes of the 1894 strike; it found George Pullman's paternalism partly to blame and described the operations of his company town to be "un-American". In 1898, the Illinois Supreme Court forced the Pullman Company to divest ownership in the town, as its company charter did not authorize such operations, and the land was annexed to Chicago. Much of it is now designated as an historic district, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
Overview
The Pullman Strike was two interrelated strikes in 1894 that shaped national labor policy in the United States during a period of deep economic depression. First came a strike by the American Railway Union (ARU) against the Pullman factory in Chicago in spring 1894. When it failed the ARU launched a national boycott against all trains that carried Pullman passenger cars. The nationwide …
Background
Low wage, expensive rent, and the failing ideal of a utopian workers settlement were already a problem for the Pullman workers. Company towns, like Pullman, were constructed with a plan to keep everything within a small vicinity to keep workers from having to move far. Using company run shops and housing took away competition leaving areas open to exploitation, monopolization, and hig…
Boycott
Many of the Pullman factory workers joined the American Railway Union (ARU), led by Eugene V. Debs, which supported their strike by launching a boycott in which ARU members refused to run trains containing Pullman cars. At the time of the strike approximately 35% of Pullman workers were members of the ARU. The plan was to force the railroads to bring Pullman to compromise. Debs beg…
Federal intervention
The strike was handled by US Attorney General Richard Olney, who was appointed by President Grover Cleveland. A majority of the president's cabinet in Washington, D.C., backed Olney's proposal for federal troops to be dispatched to Chicago to put an end to the "rule of terror." In comparison to his $8,000 compensation as Attorney General, Olney had been a railroad attorney and had a $10,000 retainer from the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. Olney got an injun…
Local responses
The strike affected hundreds of towns and cities across the country. Railroad workers were divided, for the old established Brotherhoods, which included the skilled workers such as engineers, firemen and conductors, did not support the labor action. ARU members did support the action, and often comprised unskilled ground crews. In many areas townspeople and businessmen general…
Public opinion
President Grover Cleveland did not think Governor John Peter Altgeld could manage the strike as it continued to cause more and more physical and economic damage. Altgeld's pro-labor mindset and social reformist sympathies were viewed by outsiders as being a form of ‘German Socialism’. Critics of Altgeld worried that he was usually on the side of the workers. Outsiders also …
Aftermath
Debs was arrested on federal charges, including conspiracy to obstruct the mail as well as disobeying an order directed to him by the Supreme Court to stop the obstruction of railways and to dissolve the boycott. He was defended by Clarence Darrow, a prominent attorney, as well as Lyman Trumbull. At the conspiracy trial Darrow argued that it was the railways, not Debs and his union…
See also
• United States labor law
• History of rail transport in the United States
• Murder of workers in labor disputes in the United States
Stakes of The Strike
The Inventor of The Pullman Car
Pullman's Planned Community For Workers
Cuts to Wages as Rents Endure
Pullman Strike Spreads Nationwide
Government Crushes The Strike
- The U.S. attorney general, Richard Olney, became determined to crush the strike. On July 2, 1894, the federal government got an injunction in federal court which ordered an end to the strike. President Grover Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago to enforce the court ruling. When they arrived on July 4, 1894, riots broke out in Chicago, and 26 c...
Significance of The Strike
Resources and Further Reading