( (This is a map of where the large/major strikes were held)
The train was a great invention that blew the public's mind when it first came to the public. In 1830, there was a total of about twenty-three miles of train tracks across the United States of America. By the 1860's, the rail road was a major and vital tool to society. The Railroad played a vital role in America's society. It made westward expansion possible, and it also was vital to the cattle industry and shipping them to the East. Although the train was an awesome machine and tool, it will lead to the first rail road strike, and much bloodshed.
There were many issues that led to the people going on strike to the rail companies. One of the problems, was that in 1873, there was an economic downturn. There were as many as three million people that were out of work, and the rest that were working had ridiculous and unreliable hours, all while working for very little pay. The depression got so bad, that there were even reports of starvation and suicide. Another piece that led to the Great Strike, were the ridiculous wages. The Pennsylvania Railroad had major pay cuts. At one point, they cut the workers' wages by ten percent. Then, they cut another ten percent of those wages, later in 1877. After they had already lowered the wages, the rail company doubled the trains without hiring new workers. The angry workers then went on strike, and stopped trains from leaving. The Baltimore & Ohio also took to cutting wages. They also set into motion, shortening the work. Now, the workers were not only getting less pay, but now they were working for two or three days out of the week. The firemen and brakemen went on strike and refused to work. They took control, and did not let trains pass in any direction.
There was also much violence that occurred through the period of the strikes. In Baltimore, many sympathetic people gathered around the National Guard armory. The governor had called out the National Guard, because the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company had asked for them. The event eventually escalated, and the civilians started throwing rocks, and the National Guard acted, and they began to fire on the people. When the smoke had cleared, there were ten people that had been killed and many wounded. After the bloodshed, thousands more arrived and set fire to the cars and station. Federal troops arrived and restored peace.
Although the strike only lasted forty-five days, it had great impacts. There was massive amounts of damage caused in that short period of time. There is no exact amount that was recorded, but estimates say that millions of dollars were lost in damages and work-absence. The lost time from the workers striking, is around $600,000. In cities such as Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Martinsburg, and Chicago, the estimates of the damage is around $5,000,000 per city. All in all, the strike turned out to be a good thing. It would eventually lead to the improvement of conditions for workers. Improvement will come in the form of unions, laws, benefits, and conditions and safety of where the work stations are. The monopolies were ruthless people, and violated the rights of the workers in every aspect. They lowered their wages to ridiculously low amounts, shortened their work-week and barely earned pay, and would fire them for joining a union. The Great Strike may not have had an instant impact on the working world, it would eventually lead to government involvement to create laws and work conditions so nothing like it could happen again.
There were many issues that led to the people going on strike to the rail companies. One of the problems, was that in 1873, there was an economic downturn. There were as many as three million people that were out of work, and the rest that were working had ridiculous and unreliable hours, all while working for very little pay. The depression got so bad, that there were even reports of starvation and suicide. Another piece that led to the Great Strike, were the ridiculous wages. The Pennsylvania Railroad had major pay cuts. At one point, they cut the workers' wages by ten percent. Then, they cut another ten percent of those wages, later in 1877. After they had already lowered the wages, the rail company doubled the trains without hiring new workers. The angry workers then went on strike, and stopped trains from leaving. The Baltimore & Ohio also took to cutting wages. They also set into motion, shortening the work. Now, the workers were not only getting less pay, but now they were working for two or three days out of the week. The firemen and brakemen went on strike and refused to work. They took control, and did not let trains pass in any direction.
There was also much violence that occurred through the period of the strikes. In Baltimore, many sympathetic people gathered around the National Guard armory. The governor had called out the National Guard, because the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company had asked for them. The event eventually escalated, and the civilians started throwing rocks, and the National Guard acted, and they began to fire on the people. When the smoke had cleared, there were ten people that had been killed and many wounded. After the bloodshed, thousands more arrived and set fire to the cars and station. Federal troops arrived and restored peace.
Although the strike only lasted forty-five days, it had great impacts. There was massive amounts of damage caused in that short period of time. There is no exact amount that was recorded, but estimates say that millions of dollars were lost in damages and work-absence. The lost time from the workers striking, is around $600,000. In cities such as Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Martinsburg, and Chicago, the estimates of the damage is around $5,000,000 per city. All in all, the strike turned out to be a good thing. It would eventually lead to the improvement of conditions for workers. Improvement will come in the form of unions, laws, benefits, and conditions and safety of where the work stations are. The monopolies were ruthless people, and violated the rights of the workers in every aspect. They lowered their wages to ridiculously low amounts, shortened their work-week and barely earned pay, and would fire them for joining a union. The Great Strike may not have had an instant impact on the working world, it would eventually lead to government involvement to create laws and work conditions so nothing like it could happen again.