Great Railroad Strike Research Paper

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was known as the first major walkout in U.S. History that started during the Panic of 1873. The railroad company in a move they thought would slow the bleeding decided that they would make up their lost profits by cutting the workers’ pay by 10% and make them work longer hours. As a result, the employees decided to avoid coming to work and eventually set up a blockade at the entrance to not allow any of the others to come through. In support of this act, several other industries from around the country joined in on the incursion, which led to the president getting involved and sending out the Army to end the strike that only lasted three weeks. Although President Hayes was supportive of what the employees were trying to do he understood that it was more important to take care of the businesses. The Haymarket Square Riot was started after some laborers who were on strike from the McCormick Grain Reaper Co. attacked some of the replacement workers. The police were brought in to offer protection for these workers against the angry mob, which eventually
This walkout was due to the unfairness that was being handed down by the Pullman Company. For example, they were lowering the wages of the employees, but not decreasing the rent on the homes that they were renting from the company. The company was depriving their workers of a decent living wage by cutting their income, yet was still able to provide an 8% dividend to the stockholders as well as have a surplus of twenty-five million dollars. Eugene saw this as a huge unjust and got as many people as he could include to strike, which eventually paralyzed the railroad until the government got involved. The strike continued on as much as it could until Debs was arrested for violating a court injunction. Without his leadership the movement