Pullman Strike

Definition

The Pullman Strike was a major labor dispute in 1894 that pitted the American Railway Union (ARU) against the Pullman Company and the federal government. It was a significant event that highlighted the growing tensions between industrial workers and corporate power in the late 19th century United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pullman Strike was triggered by wage cuts and poor living conditions for workers in the company town of Pullman, Illinois, owned by the Pullman Company.
2. The American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, called for a boycott of Pullman railway cars, which effectively shut down much of the nation's rail transportation.
3. The federal government, at the behest of railway companies, intervened by obtaining a court injunction against the strike, and deployed federal troops to break up the strike, leading to violent clashes with strikers.
4. The Pullman Strike highlighted the growing power of corporations and the federal government in suppressing labor movements, and contributed to the rise of the progressive movement's efforts to regulate industrial capitalism.
5. The failure of the Pullman Strike dealt a significant blow to the American Railway Union and the labor movement, and marked a turning point in the struggle between workers and corporate power in the Gilded Age.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Pullman Strike exemplified the growing tensions between industrial workers and corporate power in the Gilded Age.
  • The Pullman Strike was a pivotal event that showcased the growing power imbalance between industrial workers and the corporate elite during the Gilded Age. The Pullman Company's exploitative treatment of its workers, including wage cuts and poor living conditions, sparked the strike led by the American Railway Union. However, the federal government intervened on behalf of the railway companies, obtaining an injunction and deploying troops to suppress the strike. This demonstrated how the government often sided with corporate interests over the rights and demands of workers, highlighting the stark inequality and power dynamics that characterized the Gilded Age.
• Describe the role of the American Railway Union and its leader, Eugene V. Debs, in the Pullman Strike.
  • The American Railway Union (ARU), founded by Eugene V. Debs, played a central role in the Pullman Strike. Debs, a charismatic labor leader, called for a nationwide boycott of Pullman railway cars, which effectively shut down much of the country's rail transportation. The ARU's actions brought national attention to the plight of Pullman workers and the broader struggle between labor and corporate power. However, the federal government's intervention, which Debs condemned as a violation of workers' rights, ultimately led to the defeat of the strike and a significant setback for the labor movement. The Pullman Strike marked a turning point in Debs' own political evolution, as he later became a prominent socialist and presidential candidate.
• Analyze how the Pullman Strike and its aftermath contributed to the rise of the progressive movement and its efforts to regulate industrial capitalism.
  • The Pullman Strike and its violent suppression by the federal government highlighted the growing power imbalance between corporations and workers, fueling the rise of the progressive movement. The progressive reformers, who sought to address the social and economic inequalities of the Gilded Age, saw the Pullman Strike as a prime example of the need for greater regulation of industrial capitalism. The failure of the strike and the government's siding with corporate interests reinforced the progressives' belief that the federal government needed to play a more active role in protecting workers' rights and curbing the excesses of big business. This contributed to the progressive movement's push for labor reforms, antitrust legislation, and other measures aimed at reining in the power of monopolies and ensuring a more equitable distribution of the benefits of industrialization.

Related terms

American Railway Union (ARU): A labor union founded by Eugene V. Debs in 1893, which represented railroad workers and played a central role in the Pullman Strike.

Pullman Company: A major manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, owned by George Pullman, whose actions towards its workers sparked the strike.

Gilded Age:

The period of rapid economic growth and industrialization in the United States from the 1870s to the early 1900s, which was characterized by stark inequality and labor unrest.