The Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike:
The U.S went through a serious depression in the late 1800’s, promoting wage cuts and layoffs. Many strikes and uprisings occurred at this time. Unfair treatment by employers was one of the main causes that led to the majority of strikes and uprisings. They usually ended when the government intervened and stopped the workers from boycotting.
One of the major strikes occurred in Pullman, Chicago. George Pullman founded the town, Pullman, for the workers who manufactured the Pullman Palace Car Company. He controlled the “company town” thoroughly. When Pullman decided to lay off workers and cut wages without decreasing rent, the workers called for a strike. They created the American Railway Union to represent the workers, but the Pullman Company refused to receive any communication from them. The Union was led by Eugene Debs. Delegates of the Union eventually agreed to stop pulling their cars unless they agreed to arbitration. The boycott spread and within a year had 150,000 members. At times, workers became enraged and shot at each other and set houses on fire. Pullman attached US mail to his cars so that it would be illegal for the workers not to pull his cars.
By June 29 50,000 men had quit their jobs eventually stopping railroad movement completely. Then for the first time in history, a federal injunction was used to split up a strike, saying that the strike was illegal. Strikers still did not return to work, so federal troops were sent in. Most strikers returned to their jobs, still receiving the same wages.
I think that the George Pullman was unfair and the workers had the right to go on strike. Pullman should not have cut their wages especially considering the fact that he did not decrease their rent. They were being killed and injured from dangerous equipment and did not have hygienic houses or reasonable salaries. But at the same time, I don’t think that the workers should have caused as much damage as they did, most of it
The U.S went through a serious depression in the late 1800’s, promoting wage cuts and layoffs. Many strikes and uprisings occurred at this time. Unfair treatment by employers was one of the main causes that led to the majority of strikes and uprisings. They usually ended when the government intervened and stopped the workers from boycotting.
One of the major strikes occurred in Pullman, Chicago. George Pullman founded the town, Pullman, for the workers who manufactured the Pullman Palace Car Company. He controlled the “company town” thoroughly. When Pullman decided to lay off workers and cut wages without decreasing rent, the workers called for a strike. They created the American Railway Union to represent the workers, but the Pullman Company refused to receive any communication from them. The Union was led by Eugene Debs. Delegates of the Union eventually agreed to stop pulling their cars unless they agreed to arbitration. The boycott spread and within a year had 150,000 members. At times, workers became enraged and shot at each other and set houses on fire. Pullman attached US mail to his cars so that it would be illegal for the workers not to pull his cars.
By June 29 50,000 men had quit their jobs eventually stopping railroad movement completely. Then for the first time in history, a federal injunction was used to split up a strike, saying that the strike was illegal. Strikers still did not return to work, so federal troops were sent in. Most strikers returned to their jobs, still receiving the same wages.
I think that the George Pullman was unfair and the workers had the right to go on strike. Pullman should not have cut their wages especially considering the fact that he did not decrease their rent. They were being killed and injured from dangerous equipment and did not have hygienic houses or reasonable salaries. But at the same time, I don’t think that the workers should have caused as much damage as they did, most of it