The Pullman Strike

1. The Pullman Strike Chicago 1894

2. Pullman Strike • Review the Pullman Strike PowerPoint • The are 4 sets of short newspaper articles A-D, closely read them and underline or highlight the parts that answer the questions on the graphic organizer. • Fill in the required information on the graphic organizers. • One graphic organizer for each set of articles (4)

3. Divided Nation • The Pullman strike divided the nation. In Chicago, there were newspapers that supported the workers and newspapers that supported the Pullman Car Company.

4. Pullman Palace Car Company • Railway car company owned by George Pullman • Over 6,000 workers • Workers lived in “company town” • Rent was 25% higher than other areas Interior of a Pullman Sleeper Car

5. Reasons for the Strike • Historical Context: Depression of 1893 • Pullman cut workers’ wages but didn’t cut rent for apartments • On May 10, 1894, workers walked out of their factory

6. ARU Supports Pullman Workers • American Railway Union was a national union of railway workers • Eugene Debs, ARU leader, decided to support Pullman strikers • Across the nation, railway workers refused to run trains that had Pullman cars attached to them • The country was paralyzed

7. Eugene Debs Eugene V. Debs, the rail union president at the time of the strike, later campaigned as the American Socialist presidential candidate

8. President Grover Cleveland sends in troops

9. Violence Erupts • Presence of federal troops set off riots • Rioters burned buildings • Troops killed 4 people and wounded 20

10. End of Strike • By August the strike fell apart • 1000 union workers were fired • New workers had to sign contracts promising not to join a union • Debs was arrested and jailed for 6 months