Source: https://www.britannica.com/summary/Haymarket-Affair

Carnegie Steel Company Workers

Pinkerton Guards

State Militia

Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers

What Was it:

A major labor dispute and violent conflict between striking workers and Pinkertons, where workers refused to leave the factory.

Why - Pullman workers had made a grievance committee to try and reason with the company. After the negotiations were going nowhere, the workers decided to strike despite being told against it by the ARU. 

When - It took place from May to July of 1984. 

Where - It was located in Pullman, Illinois. The workers struck against a widely used car and railroad company, which affected railroad traffic nationwide. 

https://www.nps.gov/pull/learn/historyculture/the-strike-of-1894.htm

“The Pullman strike was not declared until the employees of the Pullam company were driven to the verge of starvation”

“No, sir; I would answer your question in this way. There would

have been no trouble with the railway companies had it not been

for the Pullman trouble. The delegates regarded it as an inauspicious time for the inauguration of a strike for any purpose on account of the depressed condition of the country, but the grievances

the delegates and their constituents had already suffered at the

hands of the railway companies aggravated the condition, and

wrought them up to a point to at least espouse the cause of the

Pullman employees at the time the convention met.”

"The dispatcher undertook to find men who would go, but all the train men refused. He then made up two crews from the yard men... when the striking men, led by one Andrew Hice, threw coupling pins and other missiles at the brakeman who was attempting to couple on the engine... he had to run for his life." - By Alleghny Dwyane, worker at the railroad. 

"Mr. Watt stepped up and said 'I will open the switch,' when a brakeman by the name of Davis stepped in front of him, and said 'boys we might as well die right here,' and made some demonstrations. At this moment a man named McCall, standing behind Davis, struck Mr. Watt in the eye; that ended the attempt to open the switch at that time." - By Davis M. Watt, serving superintendent. 

"The mayor replied that he would have nothing to do with it; the whole matter was taken out of his hands; they had no business to bring troops there. Mr. Stewart asked him if he would see Mr. Cassatt [Railroad VP]... His answer was: 'No, I will have nothing to do with it,' and he turned and left." - By Mayor Guthrie. 

Short term effects: After this riot took place, labor union strikes and riots were repressed heavily by the government and militias. The Knights of Labor lost support and the AFL’s influence grew. Anti-immigrant ideals also grew and mass arrests and police raids led to suppressed rights like free speech. With the growth of more propaganda in the media, public fear of anarchy grew which fully cancelled the workers’ possibilities of getting 8-hour work days.

Blame: Since corporations were overworking their laborers, they came together to strike against the corporations to try to reduce their working hours to 8 per day. What really set of the radical ideals of this was the 8 anarchists in the Knights of Labor planting the bomb that killed police officers.

What:
It was a massive labor strike in which railroad workers protested wage cuts and poor working conditions. It became the first major nationwide labor conflict in U.S. history.

When:
The strike began on July 16, 1877

Where:
It started in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and spread to major cities across the Midwest and Northeast, including Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Why:
Workers were angry over repeated wage cuts, long hours, unsafe conditions, and the economic depression following the Panic of 1873. They felt exploited by powerful railroad companies and demanded fair pay and treatment.

Short term cause of tragedy: The capitalist factory workers wanted money, so they made sure the workers did not leave, so some closed fire doors to keep them working.

At the moment of the fire, the fire door was locked as a result of the working conditions, so Max Blank, the factory owner, deserves the blame for the tragedy for locking the doors. He went on trial and went on trial in the Court of Special Sessions.

In the long term, George Pullman had made his company town seem like a good environment, but the company ended up having control over the majority of workers’ lives, which they disliked and were harmed by.  Also, they continued to have poor working conditions and wage cuts, which Pullman refused to negotiate about, and this angered the workers.  The economic inequality at that time was a huge long-term cause as well.

Who deserved the blame: George Pullman himself was to blame because of his policies that led to the strike, and he didn’t want to enter arbitration with his workers. He refused to negotiate or lower rent after he cut wages during this economic depression. However, in his testimony before the investigative commission,  he defended his model town and his decisions, though it led to a strike that damaged the company and its workers.

Long-term cause: Overall terrible environment of factory life, sweatshop type setting, and people were forced to work grueling conditions. The workers were also Jewish women, who in history were marginalized against. The people went on strike, and sought better wages, standardized work day and improved working conditions.

Short term cause of tragedy: The capitalist factory workers wanted money, so they made sure the workers did not leave, so some closed fire doors to keep them working.

At the moment of the fire, the fire door was locked as a result of the working conditions, so Max Blank, the factory owner, deserves the blame for the tragedy for locking the doors. He went on trial and went on trial in the Court of Special Sessions.