In 1877, Laborers took action by seizing control of the rails by sequestering the rail switches and by blockading freight trains, only letting passenger trains through. Strikes broke out in many cities including Baltimore where 10 protesters and bystanders were killed by the local militia. Engulfed in rage, the laborers rampaged through the city destroying all things pertaining to trains. Only after Hayes was called for help did the real action begin. In Pittsburgh, the National Guard was called to quell another strike by any means necessary, even if it meant killing 20 people including women and children. Tempers exploded as fires raged through the city destroying $4 million worth of railroad property. The country suffered an estimated 100 deaths due to these rash actions and violence. The casualties could’ve been avoided through peaceful negotiation, but that never …show more content…
Still feeling the effects of depression, the Pullman Palace Car Company had to lay off 5,800 workers and also cut wages from 25-50%. Even though they were making less money, the Pullman town didn’t lower the rent. On May 11th, 90% of the workers went on strike and a month later, ¼ million across the country joined them by refusing to pull Pullman sleeping cars. Lawyers, as tricky as they are, managed to get a court injunction to force the workers back to work by attaching a US mail car to a Pullman car and say the laborers were disturbing the distribution of mail. The workers didn’t comply to with the courts jurisdiction and so 14,000 troops were sent by Grover Cleveland to enforce the ruling. 25 were killed as the troops shot into a crowd of 10,000 in Chicago. Hundred were jailed including Eugene Debs, leader of the American Railway Union who ordered the workers to stop pulling the Pullman cars. The government prioritized a strong healthy economy over a large and happy