American Railway Union

Definition

The American Railway Union (ARU) was a labor union formed in 1893 that represented railroad workers across the United States. It was founded by Eugene V. Debs and aimed to organize all railroad workers, regardless of their specific job or craft, into a single, powerful union to advocate for better working conditions and wages.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The American Railway Union was formed in response to the growing power and consolidation of the railroad industry, which had led to worsening working conditions and wages for railroad workers.
2. The ARU's industrial unionism approach was a departure from the traditional craft unionism of earlier labor organizations, which had focused on specific trades or occupations.
3. The Pullman Strike of 1894, in which the ARU led a nationwide boycott of Pullman railroad cars, was a major test of the union's power and led to a violent confrontation with the U.S. government.
4. The ARU's defeat in the Pullman Strike, and the subsequent jailing of Eugene V. Debs, dealt a significant blow to the union and the industrial unionism movement.
5. The failure of the Pullman Strike and the ARU's decline paved the way for the rise of more conservative, craft-based unions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features and goals of the American Railway Union.
  • The American Railway Union (ARU) was a labor union formed in 1893 that sought to organize all railroad workers, regardless of their specific job or craft, into a single, powerful union. This approach, known as industrial unionism, was a departure from the traditional craft unionism of earlier labor organizations. The ARU's primary goals were to advocate for better working conditions and higher wages for railroad workers, who were facing worsening circumstances due to the growing power and consolidation of the railroad industry.
• Explain the significance of the Pullman Strike and its impact on the American Railway Union.
  • The Pullman Strike of 1894 was a major test of the American Railway Union's power and strategy. Led by the ARU, the nationwide boycott of Pullman railroad cars in solidarity with Pullman workers was a bold move to demonstrate the union's ability to disrupt the railroad industry. However, the violent confrontation with the U.S. government and the subsequent jailing of ARU leader Eugene V. Debs dealt a significant blow to the union and the industrial unionism movement. The failure of the Pullman Strike paved the way for the rise of more conservative, craft-based unions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, undermining the ARU's vision of a unified, industry-wide labor organization.
• Analyze the broader historical context and significance of the American Railway Union within the context of 18.3 Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor and 20.4 Social and Labor Unrest in the 1890s.
  • The American Railway Union emerged during a period of rapid industrialization and consolidation in the United States, as the railroad industry became a dominant force in the economy. The ARU's formation and its confrontational tactics, such as the Pullman Strike, were part of a broader trend of social and labor unrest in the 1890s, as workers sought to challenge the growing power of industrial titans and the harsh working conditions they imposed. The ARU's industrial unionism approach, while ultimately unsuccessful, represented an important shift in labor organizing strategies, moving away from the traditional craft-based model towards a more inclusive, industry-wide approach. The ARU's rise and fall illustrates the challenges faced by labor movements in the late 19th century as they sought to adapt to the changing economic landscape and assert the rights of workers against the growing power of big business.

Related terms

Pullman Strike: A major labor dispute in 1894 in which the American Railway Union led a nationwide boycott of Pullman railroad cars in solidarity with Pullman workers, leading to a violent confrontation with the U.S. government.

Eugene V. Debs: The founder and leader of the American Railway Union, who was jailed for his role in the Pullman Strike and later became a prominent socialist and five-time presidential candidate.

Industrial Unionism: The organizing philosophy of the American Railway Union, which sought to unite all workers in a particular industry, rather than just specific crafts or trades, into a single, powerful union.