Pullman Strike

Grover Cleveland

Definition and Summary of the Pullman Strike
Summary and Definition: The Pullman Strike started in the Pullman district in the south side of Chicago during 1894 and spread across the country. George Mortimer Pullman (1831 – 1897) designed the Pullman sleeping car and founded a company town for the workers who worked for him. Following the economic depression caused by the Panic of 1893 George Pullman increased working hours, cut wages and cut jobs. The workers belonged to the American Railroad Union (ARU) founded by Eugene V. Debs. The workers protested and started the Pullman Strike on May 11, 1894 and violence broke out.  George Pullman and the railroads gained the support of President Cleveland for the use of US troops who used harsh methods to suppress the strikers. Debs was sent to jail and the strike was broken by July 17, 1894.

Pullman Strike for kids
Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th American President who served in office from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1889 and from March 4, 1893 - March 4,1897. One of the important events during his presidency was the Pullman Strike.

     
   

The 1894 Pullman Strike for kids
The 1894 Pullman Strike pitted the workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company owned by 'Robber Baron' George Mortimer Pullman. The strike erupted following harsh measures by George Pullman to recoup his profits following the economic depression caused by the
Panic of 1893. The Pullman strike spread across the nation and was suppressed by federal troops.

1894 Pullman Strike Significance
The Pullman Strike was highly significant:

● The President authorized the use of federal troops to put down the strike
● Federal courts were used to curtail union activity
● The American Railway Union was destroyed

Pullman City, Chicago, Illinois
George Pullman built a model city to house his workers and they were required to live there. The model city centered around the factory and consisted of over 1000 homes and public buildings included a  bank, church, library, theatre, post office and parks. But everything came at a cost. Workers were even charged to use the library. Rent was taken out of the wages. Investors in the city expected a 6% return on their investment. And workers were expected to adhere to a code of behavior. George Pullman wanted total control over his workforce. 

Pullman Strike for kids
Interesting facts about the Pullman Strike are detailed below. The history of Pullman Strike is told in a factual sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the history and events of the Pullman Strike.

Pullman Strike Fact Sheet:  Facts for kids

Railroad Strike Fact 1: The labor force at the Pullman Palace Car Company was reduced from 5,500 to 3,300

Railroad Strike Fact 2: The Pullman pay cuts averaged 25% per employee and wages were based on piece-work

Railroad Strike Fact 3: As the dispute spread, over 100,000 employees working on 24 railroads centering at Chicago were involved in the strike

Railroad Strike Fact 4: Deaths: During the violent dispute, 12 people were shot

Railroad Strike Fact 5: Number of Arrests: Over 500 strikers were arrested and over 400 found guilty

Railroad Strike Fact 6: Reasons for the arrests included conspiracy to commit offenses and restrict trade, murder, assault, arson, burglary, intimidation and inciting to riot

Railroad Strike Fact 7: The arrests included Officers of the American Railway Union and Eugene V. Debs, George W. Howard and Sylvester Keliher were found guilty  of different offences.

Railroad Strike Fact 8: Union leader Eugene V. Debs was jailed for six months for contempt of court.

Railroad Strike Fact 9: The loss in wages of the Pullman strikers is estimated as at least $350,000

Railroad Strike Fact 10: Workers representatives met with the company owner George Pullman but he refused to restore the wages or to reduce rents. The representatives were later dismissed from the company.

Continued...

Pullman Strike Facts for kids

Pullman Strike for kids
The info about the Pullman Strike provides interesting facts and important information about this important event that occured during the presidency of the 22nd and 24th President of the United States of America.

Causes of the Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike spread nationwide and was viewed at the time as insurrection and rebellion by the working classes The causes of the Pullman Strike were based on money and greed. Ruthless companies headed by 'Robber Barons' such as George Pullman were determined to hold on to their profits during the economic depression. Pullman dealt a severe blow to his workers by cutting the workforce,  cutting wages and increasing working hours.

Pullman Strike Facts for kids
Interesting history and the Pullman Strike Facts for kids are continued below.

Pullman Strike Facts for kids

Railroad Strike Fact 11: In the early Spring of 1894 the company announced that the workers either accepted a wage cut or the factory would have to shut.

Railroad Strike Fact 12: By May the workers protested they were unable to survive on the wages and asked the company to restore the old rates of pay.

Railroad Strike Fact 13: The Pullman company refused and on May 11, 1894, the workers walked out in a 'wildcat' strike forcing the factory to close

Railroad Strike Fact 14: The American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, stepped in. Eugene Debs ordered a nationwide boycott of all Pullman cars that covered most railroads in the country encouraging protests from the porters, engineers, brakemen, and switchmen.

Railroad Strike Fact 15: The protests, rallies and demonstrations turned violent. There were riots, property was destroyed trains were derailed. Any workers attempting to work were threatened and intimidated.

Railroad Strike Fact 16: Governor Altgeld sent local militia to quell the riots - but many of the militia openly sympathized with the strikers.

Railroad Strike Fact 17: George Pullman and the owners of the railroads applied pressure on President Cleveland and his administration.

Railroad Strike Fact 18: The strikers had resisted deputy marshals and had hindered to US postal service which gave the President a reason to send in Federal troops.

Railroad Strike Fact 19: On July 2, 1894 a Federal writ was issued forbidding all interference with the US mail and with interstate railroad commerce.

Railroad Strike Fact 20: The Federal troops consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery were sent in to enforce the writ and clashed violently with the strikers, there were deaths and serious injuries

Railroad Strike Fact 21: Violence and riots spread across the country and the President threatened the strikers with the full force of the US Army and Labor leaders and strikers were arrested.

Railroad Strike Fact 22: The government argued that by striking, the railroad workers were placing a restraint on trade and commerce, resulting in a direct violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Railroad Strike Fact 23: The Pullman strikers were unable to resist the might of the United States government and on August 5, 1894 all labor action was stopped - the Pullman Strike was over.

Railroad Strike Fact 24: Four years later the 1898 Erdman Railway Labor Act set up arbitration procedures to settle railway disputes

Pullman Strike Facts for kids

The Pullman Strike: Rise of Big Business and Corporations
For additional facts and info refer to the Rise of Big Business and Corporations involving the monopolies and trusts. Learn about the wealthy industrialists referred to as the Robber Barons and the Captains of Industry and discover the Effects and Impact of Industrialization that led to Riots, Strikes and Unions. For addition facts refer to the article on the Labor Unions History.

Pullman Strike for kids - President Grover Cleveland Video
The article on the Pullman Strike provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following Grover Cleveland video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 22nd and 24th President of the United States whose presidencies spanned from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1889 and from March 4, 1893 - March 4,1897.

Pullman Strike

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