The Pullman Strike Chicago, 1894 Interior of a Pullman Sleeper Car

Pullman Palace Car Company Railway car company owned by George Pullman Over 6,000 workers Workers had lived in “company town” Rent was 25% higher than other areas Pullman, Illinois

Origins of the Strike Historical Context: Depression of 1893 Pullman cuts workers’ wages But doesn’t cut rent for apartments

Strike Begins May 10, 1894- Workers walk out

ARU Supports Pullman Workers American Railway Union is a NATIONAL union of railway workers Eugene Debs, ARU leader, decides to support Pullman strikers Across the nation, railway workers refused to run trains that had Pullman cars attached to them The country is paralyzed

Eugene Debs

President Grover Cleveland sends in troops

Violence Erupts Presence of Federal troops sets off riots Rioters burn buildings, troops kill 4 and wound 20

End of Strike By August, strike fall apart 1000 union workers fired New workers have to sign contracts promising not to join a union Debs arrested and jailed for 6 months