I n 1877 United States was entering its fourth year of depression. Since the United States was entering into this depression, the railroad industry took a downfall. However, at this time, the railroad industry was providing into the market of Iron, Steel, Coal and, of course, the products within the industry. Prior to the year 1877, the railroad worker's wages decreased and some of these workers were laid off. The reason why the strike was in effect was because management wanted to reduce the work force. Having this enforced, meant unemployment for individuals, which essentially downsized the economy. The railroad strike of 1877 was a severe tragedy that led to unfair wages, riots, and unfair government regulations.Phil Chernesky
When the strike occurred, most of all major cities, including the North, South, East and West, were affected. In order to get their point across, transportation on the rail wasn't even an existence. " In 1877 they announced another ten percent reduction in the worker's pay and also that railroad employees would be required to use company hotels when away from home, which meant a further reduction in real wages". ( Le Blanc, 2002; p1) Management would then have a win-to-win situation. Since the union members would write-off their expenses to the company, management went ahead and minimized wages. The discussion upon the strike essentially began in Allegheny City June 27, 1877, which is formally known as Pittsburgh. This is where the National Trainmen's Union originally had their first meeting pertaining to the wage issues.
As a result, management went ahead and focused on firing unionized workers so that no strike could occur. Management simply wanted to show union workers that they had the upper hand. However, on July 16th, a strike occurred in Martinsburg, West Virginia which lead to cities from St.Louis and Chicago to New York and Baltimore.
At this point, many Americans began to feel sorry for the union workers on how they were treated by their wages. Americans couldn't understand why these union railroad workers were being treated like this. Furthermore, many articles were published to show Americans how they were treated. " Weekly layoffs, wage cuts, strikes, evictions, breadlines and hunger increased,"(News, 2002; p1). Since there were layoffs and wages cut, many families suffered from starvation. Since this was the fourth depression, the laid off workers had no other choice then to strike. By 1877, there were as many as three million unemployed people which is roughly twenty-seven percent of working population.
Two-fifths of those employed were working no more than six to seven months a year and less than one-fifth were regularly working (New, 2002; p2). The individuals that were employed had been minimized by forty-five percent, which lead to starvation and suicide. In addition, many railroad companies would issue more job assignments with a decrease in pay. Obviously this was an unethical issue. For example, the company would double the amount of work but never wanted to establish additional employees.
On July 13th, Baltimore and Ohio cut the wages of all workers making more than a dollar a day, by ten percent. Was this the right way to treat hard labored workers? Management seemed to feel that it was the right recipe to show it was fair. On that note, the strike starts to expand from the East and into the West.
Since management felt it was ok to minimize wages, the word got around to every union worker. Union workers, such as fireman, wanted to standby the railroad union workers. Furthermore, when there were fires some fireman refused to do their jobs because they felt all union members should collaborate together. This was just the beginning of the strike. Since the strike influenced so many union members, management couldn't control them anymore. In fact, management even tried to hire non-union employees "scabs" but all of the union members would essentially threaten all non-union employees.
In addition, these threats would lead into riots. Many railroad unions had a bitter taste in their mouths and were not taking no for answer. Railroad union employees decided to stop transportation by standing in front of the rail track and burned several of the boxcars. " We feel confident that the God of the poor and the oppressed of the Earth is with us. Therefore let the clashing of arms be heard, let the fiery elements be poured out if they think it right, but in heed to our right and in defense of our families, we shall conquer or we shall die!" (Le Blanc, 2002, p1).
Railroad unions figured, with destruction of retaliation, management would finally accept their demands! Due to the violent destruction, management then asks for assistance from government to stop the strike. The so-called "Milita's," which are currently known as the National Guard, would then have to put an end to all of this. There were several crowds protesting against the Milita's. Individuals that were protesting were young children, men, and women on the support of the strikers to prevent a military event.
The military forces had no other choice to enforce brutality. As a result, the troops open fire to unarmed men, women, and even innocent children. Perhaps this was the wake up call for the union. Furthermore, there were at least twenty dead including one woman and three small children and twenty-nine wounded (Le Blanc, 2002; p2). With the brutal actions, word was passed and thousands of workers rushed to the area. The union workers didn't except the brutal action and then came in with weapons. The union workers retaliated by destroying thirty nine buildings of the Pennsylvania Railroad, one hundred and four engines, forty six passenger cars, and over twelve-hundred freight cars which sum up a total of four million dollars in damage (Le blanc, 2002, p2). The Pittsburgh area was so fed up that iron, steel, and coal miners would then decide to go on strike.
As a result, the strike was too outsized for the National Guard to manage. On July 26, regular troops of the United States Army joined with states National Guards to take control of the city and reopened all railroad operations in Pittsburgh and Allegheny City. This essentially was the first time when the United States Army had to actually step in to avoid the strike.
Before the strike was even declared,
some Americans believed the economy was going to go through depression
because of the election of their new president Rutherford B. Hayes: a Republican.
Americans believed that the new president had reached the White House through
fraud (News, 2002, p3). Americans were right because they went through
a forth depression. If the president himself knew about the unfair
practices, why didn't he try to a avoid destruction through his military
and the American citizens? Do Americans blame the president for these unfair
arrangements? The President could have prevented this if he really truly
cared about the American people. Some Americans may believe that
the president could have avoided these riot actions and Americans can say
that it wasn't his fault.Overall, 1877 will always be in the minds of all
American union workers. The Railroad strike of 1877 was a severe tragedy,
which led to unfair wages, riots, and unfair government regulations. The
1877 railroad strike will always be passed on to generation to generation,
and will always be a piece of our economic history.
Works Cited
Depaul University Library
Le Blanc, Paul (2002): The Railroad Strike of 1877
http://www.pittsburghaflcio.org/railroad.html
Pinkerton, Allan (1969): Mass Violence in America
New York: Arno Press and The New York Times
UE News (2002): The Great Strike of 1877
http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html
http://archieve.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/RiverWeb/Projects/Ambot/Archives/vignettes/econom.
Date retrieved 10/29/02
http://www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/ibex/archive/vignettes/1877_rr_strike.htm
Date retrieved 10/29/02
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