Major Labor Fights

The Haymarket Riot- 1886 May 1st- Chicago workers strike for the 8 hour day Anarchists and radicals become involved in the campaign May 3rd- shooting occurs at McCormick Reaper plant when strikers and police altercate(2 workers killed) May 4th- protest meeting is called for at Haymarket Square (see flyers)

1st Flyer Printed

2nd Flyer Printed 20,000 new copies distributed, but old ones remained

Haymarket Rally August Spies and other labor leaders spoke to between 600 and 3000. The Chicago Police advanced towards the speaker Samuel Fielden as he was finishing his speech A bomb was thrown that led to the death of 7 police officers At least 4 demonstrators were killed, 70+ injured

Haymarket Propaganda

The Aftermath Labor is attacked and investigated big time Fear of Anarchists 8 radicals arrested and 7 get the death penalty (some for “inflammatory speeches”) 4 are executed, 1 commits suicide, and 3 others are released on a pardon by Governor Altgeld.

The Haymarket Condemned

The Pullman Strike (1894) George Pullman created a “model town” to house workers of his company Town outside Chicago had nice parks, library, banks, and homes for workers Panic of 1893 lowered demand for luxury railroad cars Pullman cut wages of workers but did no lower rent

Pullman Palace Care

Wages, Rent, and Strike Wages were cut by 25% while the rent was still 25% higher than normal Pullman workers go on strike The American Railway Union (led by Eugene Debs) boycotts Pullman cars across the country

The Government Strike becomes first real national strike in US history President Grover Cleveland sends in federal troops to Illinois against Governor Altgelds wishes Presence of federal troops incite violence Riots occur, troops fire in crowd killing at least four and wounding many

Pullman Strike

The Result The General Managers Association wins Strike is broken by federal government Mail delivery is resumed Eugene Debs is arrested, convicted, and becomes a Socialist Pullman workers go back to work for lower wages