Pullman Strike

The Pullman Strike of 1894 was a nationwide railroad strike in the United States sparked by wage cuts and high rents at the Pullman company town in Illinois. Workers, led by the American Railway Union, protested against poor working conditions and reduced pay without lowered living costs. The strike disrupted rail traffic and mail delivery, leading the federal government to intervene, citing the disruption of interstate commerce. The military was called in to break the strike, resulting in violence and several deaths. The event highlighted tensions between labor rights and government authority, marking a significant moment in American labor history.