George M. Pullman

George M. Pullman was an American industrialist best known for designing and manufacturing sleeping cars for trains, revolutionizing rail travel. In the 1880s, he established a company town called Pullman in Illinois, where workers lived in housing he provided, with amenities and controls to promote efficiency. The town aimed to create a better living environment but was criticized for its strict rules and limited freedoms. The Pullman Strike of 1894, a major labor protest, highlighted tensions between management and workers. Pullman's innovations significantly impacted transportation and urban planning, but his approach also raised questions about workers' rights and corporate control.