The Great Strikes of 1877

The Great Strikes of 1877 were nationwide protests by workers upset over wage cuts and poor working conditions, mainly in the railroad industry. The first strike started in West Virginia, spreading to other states as workers shut down train services, halted freight, and protested publicly. The strikes quickly turned violent, with clashes between workers and police or militia. The government often intervened to restore order, sometimes using military force. These strikes marked the first major nationwide labor upheaval in the U.S., highlighting tensions between workers seeking better rights and the industry’s resistance to change.