The Pullman Strike

The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railroad strike in the United States that occurred in 1894, starting at the Pullman Company in Chicago, which manufactured railroad cars. Workers protested against low wages and high rents in company-owned housing. The strike disrupted rail traffic and mail delivery, leading the federal government to intervene by sending troops to break it up, claiming it affected interstate commerce. The resulting violence and clashes resulted in deaths and many injuries. The strike highlighted tensions between labor rights and government authority, influencing labor movements and regulations in the years to follow.