Boston Police Strike

Definition

The Boston Police Strike was a significant event that occurred in 1919, where members of the Boston Police Department walked off the job, leading to a breakdown in law and order in the city. This strike was a key event during the period of demobilization and economic upheaval in the aftermath of World War I, as well as the rise of the Republican Party's political dominance in the 1920s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Boston Police Strike was a direct response to the refusal of the city's mayor, Andrew Peters, to recognize the police union and allow collective bargaining.
2. The strike led to a breakdown in law and order in Boston, with widespread looting, vandalism, and violence, which was seen as a threat to the social and political stability of the country.
3. The strike was ultimately crushed by Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge, who refused to negotiate with the strikers and instead called in the state's National Guard to restore order.
4. Coolidge's decisive action and his stance against the strike earned him national recognition and helped propel him to the vice presidency and eventually the presidency in the 1920s.
5. The Boston Police Strike was seen as a symbol of the broader challenges and tensions faced by the United States during the demobilization period after World War I, as well as the growing influence of conservative, pro-business forces in American politics.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Boston Police Strike was connected to the broader challenges of demobilization and economic upheaval in the aftermath of World War I.
  • The Boston Police Strike was a manifestation of the broader social and economic turmoil that the United States faced during the demobilization period following World War I. The discharge of military personnel, the reintegration of veterans into civilian life, and the transition from a wartime to a peacetime economy all contributed to a climate of uncertainty and unrest. The police strike, which was driven by the refusal of city officials to recognize the police union and allow collective bargaining, was seen as a threat to the social and political stability of the country, as it led to a breakdown in law and order in Boston. The strike's suppression by Governor Coolidge and the subsequent rise of his political career highlighted the growing influence of conservative, pro-business forces in American politics during this period.
• Describe the role of the Boston Police Strike in the Republican Party's political ascendancy in the 1920s.
  • The Boston Police Strike played a significant role in the Republican Party's political ascendancy in the 1920s. Governor Calvin Coolidge's decisive action in suppressing the strike and his refusal to negotiate with the strikers earned him national recognition and helped propel him to the vice presidency and eventually the presidency. Coolidge's stance against the strike, which was seen as a threat to law and order and traditional American values, aligned with the broader conservative, pro-business agenda of the Republican Party during this period. The party's emphasis on Americanism, individualism, and a strong national identity resonated with many Americans who were wary of the perceived threats posed by foreign ideologies and labor unrest. The Boston Police Strike, therefore, became a symbol of the Republican Party's ability to maintain social and political stability, which contributed to its political dominance in the 1920s.
• Analyze the long-term implications of the Boston Police Strike on the relationship between labor and government in the United States.
  • The Boston Police Strike had lasting implications for the relationship between labor and government in the United States. The suppression of the strike by Governor Coolidge, and his refusal to negotiate with the strikers, sent a clear message that the government was willing to use force to maintain order and protect the interests of business and industry over the rights of workers. This set a precedent that would shape labor-government relations in the years to come, as the Republican Party's pro-business agenda and hostility towards organized labor became more pronounced. The strike also highlighted the growing influence of conservative, anti-union forces in American politics, which would lead to the passage of legislation, such as the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, that further restricted the power of labor unions. The Boston Police Strike, therefore, marked a significant turning point in the ongoing struggle between labor and government, with the balance of power shifting more firmly towards the interests of business and industry.

Related terms

Demobilization:

The process of transitioning from a wartime to a peacetime economy, which often involved the discharge of military personnel and the reintegration of veterans into civilian life.

Red Scare:

A period of intense fear and suspicion of communism and socialist ideologies in the United States, particularly in the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Revolution.

Americanism: A political and social movement that emphasized traditional American values, such as individualism, free enterprise, and a strong national identity, often in response to perceived threats from foreign ideologies.