The strike spread to pennsylvania, maryland, new york, illinois and missouri. That year, there were a series of dramatic strikes by railway workers in a dozen cities that shook the nation as no labor dispute had ever done in history. There was a possibility, that the next strike could come in the history as the continue reading great railroad strike of 1877 it was just the. A spectacular example of collective violence, the great strikes of 1877 was the first national strike and the first major strikes against the railroad industry. The great railroad strike of 1877 began in martinsburg, w. I have just added archive links to one external link on great railroad strike of 1877. The great railroad strike of 1877 april smiths technology. How did the great railroad strike of 1877 affect the national. Railroads were trying to make up for the financial losses by cutting wages, which.
The great railroad strike of july 1877 library of congress. Marking the 140th anniversary of the great railroad strike. Jan 17, 2012 part of the great railroad strike instructional packet, this newspaper article from july 17, 1877 describes the start of the strike. Annotated bibliography great railroad strike of 1877. One of the important events during his presidency was the great railroad strike of 1877. The purpose of this site is for me to explain what the great railroad strike of 1877 was about and how the civilization brought this among themselves. Some images display only as thumbnails outside the library of congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site. Through examination of three new york state cities albany, buffalo, and syracuse stowell concludes that the great strike was an urban phenomenon. I am a 20 year old college student at uconn avery point making this website for my history class. Trouble began with the baltimore and ohio railroad. And that seemingly isolated incident quickly turned into a national movement.
Fear of foreigners was a factor, and violence was blamed on german and bohemian advocates. Jul 31, 2018 the great railroad strike of 1877 began with a work stoppage by railroad employees in west virginia who were protesting a reduction in their wages. A group of railroad workers on the baltimore and ohio railroad rose up and began to strike due to wage cuts. Then federal troops went from city to city, putting down strike after strike until after a few weeks the great railroad strike of 1877 was over. The strikes and the violence it spawned briefly paralyzed the countrys commerce and led governors in ten states to mobilize 60,000 militia members to reopen rail traffic. Mar 02, 2014 great railroad strike of 1877 nhd jason and christian. The great railroad strike of 1877 came at a time when the country was in the grips of an economic depression. The strike had a minor impact on the national economy because companies quickly hired new workers.
The great railroad strike of 1877, sometimes referred to as the great upheaval, began on july 14 in martinsburg, west virginia, united states and ended some 45 days later, after it was put down by local and state militias, and federal troops. What came to be known as the great railroad strike of 1877 began on july 14 in martinsburg, west virginia. In towns throughout citys there were battles, arrests, injuries and deaths. Streets, railroads, and the great strike of 1877 by david o. The great railroad strike of 1877 began on july 14 in martinsburg, west virginia, and ended some 45 days later after it was put down by local and state militias, as well as by federal troops. Alternatively, you can add nobotsdenyinternetarchivebot to keep me off the page altogether. Foner is a fine marxist labor historian, and in this work he outlines the origin and development of the great railroad strike of 1877. This strike finally ended some 69 days later, after it was put down by unofficial militias, the national guard, and federal troops. More than 100,000 workers participated in the strikes, at the height of which more than half the freight on the countrys tracks had come to a halt. The great railroad strike of 1877 begins, july 24, 1877.
Read the great railroad strike of 1877 essay sample for. The great railroad strike of 1877 was the countrys first major rail strike and witnessed the first general strike in the nations history. The railroads were the advance agents of industrialism, opening a national market for the first time and themselves providing a market for iron, steel, coal, and the. The great railroad strike of 1877 moves on to the pennsylvania railroad. Terence powderly, director of the knights of labor, took lessons from the 1877 strike to channel worker outrage into effective protests. The strike had a major impact on the national economy because workers in other industries joined the strike.
Choose from 16 different sets of great railroad strike of 1877 flashcards on quizlet. Learn great railroad strike of 1877 with free interactive flashcards. The great railroad strike of 1877 was the first nationwide strike of workers in the united states. The great railroad strike also inspired several prominent labor leaders. The great railroad strike of 1877 new york state library. Then followed the great railroad strike of 1878, though it was not so great anymore and was suppressed brutally. That first week of july 1877, in baltimorea city where sewage ran through the streets9 babies died.
Survey of the great railroad strike of 1877, a series of violent rail strikes across the united states. Media in category great railroad strike of 1877 the following 8 files are in this category, out of 8 total. In this assessment, students evaluate an excerpt of an 1877 newspaper article about railroad strikes in columbus, ohio. This violent strike shortly paralyzed americas commerce leading to the mobilization of militia by ten state governors to reopen the rail road traffic. They turned deadly, with as many as 100 people killed in clashes. Traditionally the great strike of 1877 was seen as a strike by railroad workers in reaction to wage cuts. Knights of labor and the limits of producerist organizing duration.
The first major strike in the united states history was the great railroad strike of 1877. Great railroad strike of 1877 ohio history central. Great railroad strike of 1877 nhd jason and christian. Some marxist influence and with radical leadership of throughout the state took part of the great railroad strike of 1877. This spread up and down the railroad line across the nation.
Louis, nonrailroad workers also abandoned city businesses, creating one of the nations first general strikes. Aside from the indian wars and sheridans show of force on the mexican border, the army engaged in no conventional military operations of any consequence until the. Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through library of congress duplication services. If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. Great railroad strike of 1877 flashcards and study sets quizlet. Railroad workers had witnessed years of wage cuts as the longterm effects of the panic of 1873 set in and the. The great railroad strike of 1877 was just the start, though a very powerful start. He also describes the origin, travails, and influence of the workingmans party of the united states as an incipient vanguard that failed to live up to potential. The great railroad strike of 1877 for kids rutherford hayes was the 19th american president who served in office from march 4, 1877 to march 4, 1881.
Paul damato looks at the 1877 railroad strike, which burst into the first national strike wave in the u. When the great railroad strikes of 1877 were over, a hundred people were dead, a thousand people had gone to jail, 100,000 workers had gone on strike, and the strikes had roused into action countless unemployed in the cities. Great railroad strike of 1877 july 14, 1877 old guard history. The great railroad strike of 1877 began on july 17, 1877, in martinsburg, west virginia. How did the great railroad strike of 1877 affect the national economy. Louis strikers have been standing there for over a week and still not backing down. Question 1 asks students to evaluate whether the excerpt provides enough evidence to draw conclusions about the broader railroad strike. The trainmen struck on monday, the 16th, and gathered in the depot at martinsburg to prevent the moving of the trains with other hands. How did the great railroad strike of 1877 demonstrate the. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Video created by william carroll for the umbc practices in public history course with dr. July 14, 1877 july 17, 1877 july 18, 1877 july 20, 1877 the workers of the martinsburg workers for the baltimore the workers blockaded federal troops sent railroad went on strike because, and ohio railroad went on the railroads by tipping by the president arrived. Timeline of the great railroad strike the great railroad. For the workers, the great railroad strike of 1877 was not successful.
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