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

2. 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

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

4. Strike Begins
May 10, Workers walk out

5. 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

6. Eugene Debs

7. President Grover Cleveland sends in troops

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

9. 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