HST 203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Baltimore And Ohio Railroad, Homestead Strike, Pullman Strike
Document Summary
In last quarter of 19th century, strikers and agrarian populists fought against exploitation. Great railroad strike of 1877: depression of 1873 hit railroad industry hard, companies lost between 1/5-1/3 of value in a matter of day, most workers lost their jobs. Workers in all industries saw significant pay cuts. B&o railroad announced 10% dividend to shareholders july 1st: on same day, employee salaries were cut 10%, led to strike. July 19th: strike spreads from martinsburg to pittsburgh: 20 people were killed in mayhem of strike, citizens set fire to railroad. General strike took place: workers not necessarily in rail business strike to show support. 1877: owner of texas railroad demanded that strikers be seen as enemies to. Spreading unrest culminated in st. louis, city was basically shut down under: missouri railroad agreed to restore the wages. Great railroad strike served as a trial run for other strikes to come. Wages and working conditions continued to be poor.
