The Pullman Strike

Pullman Strike

Pullman Strike - Public Domain

Life in the Pullman Company Town

In the late 1800s, the Pullman Company built luxury railroad cars and created a company town near Chicago where workers lived. At first, the town seemed nice—it had clean streets, housing, and services. However, the company controlled everything, including rent and prices in stores. When the economy declined in 1893, wages were cut, but rent stayed high. Workers struggled to survive.

The Workers Take Action

Angry about wage cuts and poor living conditions, workers went on strike in May 1894. They were supported by the American Railway Union (ARU), led by Eugene V. Debs. Soon the strike spread across the country as railway workers refused to operate Pullman train cars. Transportation slowed, and mail delivery was affected.

The Government Gets Involved

Railroad owners asked the federal government to step in, claiming the strike blocked the mail. President Grover Cleveland sent troops to break the strike. Violence followed, and several workers were killed. Eugene Debs was arrested for ignoring a court order to end the strike.

Aftermath and Results

The strike failed, but it changed the labor movement. The government clearly sided with business, and many Americans began to question whether workers had a fair chance. After the strike, Labor Day became a national holiday to honor workers, and unions continued to grow stronger in the years that followed.

Timeline

  • 1893 – Economic depression begins; wages are cut.
  • May 1894 – Pullman workers go on strike.
  • June 1894 – ARU joins the strike nationwide.
  • July 1894 – Federal troops sent to stop the strike.
  • 1894 – Labor Day declared a national holiday.

Glossary

  • Strike – When workers stop working to demand better conditions.
  • Company town – A town where a company owns housing and services.
  • Federal troops – U.S. military forces sent by the government.
  • Union – A group of workers that fights for labor rights.
  • Depression – A time when the economy is weak and jobs are lost.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why did Pullman workers go on strike?
  2. How did the government respond to the strike?
  3. Do you think it was fair for the government to step in? Why or why not?
  4. How did the Pullman Strike affect the labor movement in the future?

Life in the Company Town

The Pullman Company built railroad cars and created a town for its workers. At first it looked like a nice place—but the company controlled rent, stores, and rules. When wages were cut, rent stayed the same, and workers could not afford food and housing.

The Strike Begins

In 1894, workers went on strike. A labor union called the American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, supported them. Soon, workers across the country refused to use Pullman cars.

The Government Steps In

The strike slowed down trains and mail, so the government sent troops to stop it. There was violence, and some workers were killed. Debs was arrested.

What It Meant

Even though the strike failed, it helped change the labor movement. People saw how hard workers’ lives were, and Labor Day became a national holiday to honor them.

Timeline

  • 1894 – Pullman Strike begins.
  • Troops sent in – The government stops the strike.
  • Later – Labor Day becomes a national holiday.

Glossary

  • Strike – Workers refusing to work to protest conditions.
  • Union – Workers joining together for their rights.
  • Company town – A town owned by a business.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why were Pullman workers unhappy?
  2. Was it fair for the government to stop the strike?
  3. How are workers’ rights protected today?