Great Railroad Strike

Definition

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a massive nationwide strike against wage cuts and poor working conditions in the railroad industry. It was one of the largest labor actions in U.S. history and a significant event in the development of the American labor movement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The strike began in July 1877 when the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad announced a 10% wage cut, the third such cut in a year, sparking outrage among workers.
2. The strike quickly spread to other railroads, with workers in major cities like Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis joining the walkout.
3. The federal government deployed thousands of troops to break up the strike, leading to violent clashes between strikers and the military that resulted in dozens of deaths.
4. The strike highlighted the growing power of industrial capitalists and the challenges faced by workers in the emerging industrial economy.
5. The Great Railroad Strike was a pivotal moment in the development of the American labor movement, inspiring the formation of new unions and increasing public sympathy for workers' rights.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a response to the challenges faced by workers in the industrial economy.
  • The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a direct response to the wage cuts and poor working conditions imposed by the powerful railroad companies, which were driven by the profit motives of industrial capitalism. Workers, angered by the repeated reductions in their pay, organized a massive nationwide strike to push back against the exploitative practices of their employers and demand better treatment. This strike highlighted the growing tensions between workers and the industrial elite, as well as the challenges faced by laborers in the emerging industrial economy, where their livelihoods were increasingly subject to the whims of large corporations.
• Analyze the impact of the federal government's intervention in the Great Railroad Strike and how it shaped the development of the American labor movement.
  • The federal government's deployment of troops to break up the Great Railroad Strike had a significant impact on the trajectory of the American labor movement. The violent clashes between strikers and the military, which resulted in dozens of deaths, demonstrated the government's willingness to side with the interests of industrial capitalists over the rights of workers. This event reinforced the perception that the government was an adversary of the labor movement, rather than a neutral arbiter. The Great Railroad Strike inspired the formation of new unions and increased public sympathy for workers' rights, as the brutality of the government's response highlighted the power imbalance between employers and their employees. This event was a pivotal moment in the evolution of the labor movement, as it galvanized workers to organize more effectively and challenge the dominance of industrial capitalism.
• Evaluate the long-term significance of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 in the context of the 'Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor' period.
  • The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a seminal event in the 'Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor' period, as it exemplified the struggles faced by workers in the emerging industrial economy. The strike's widespread impact and the government's violent suppression of the workers' demands underscored the power imbalance between industrial capitalists and their employees. This event catalyzed the growth of the labor movement, as workers recognized the need to organize collectively to challenge the exploitative practices of large corporations. The Great Railroad Strike also heightened public awareness of the harsh realities faced by laborers in the industrial age, paving the way for future reforms and the eventual strengthening of workers' rights. In this context, the strike's legacy lies in its role as a pivotal moment that shaped the trajectory of the labor movement and the ongoing battle between capital and labor in the industrialization of America.

Related terms

Wage Cuts: Reductions in the hourly or salaried pay of workers, often implemented by employers to reduce costs.

Labor Movement: The organized effort of workers to improve their economic and social conditions through collective action, such as strikes and unionization.

Industrial Capitalism: An economic system characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit, which drove rapid industrialization in the late 19th century.