Focus Question:

How did Chicago newspapers

cover the Pullman Strike?
Do Now:
Complete the 3 practice question on
the first page of handout.
Pullman Palace Car Company
Railway car
company owned
by George
Pullman.
Over 6,000
workers.
Workers lived in
a company
town.
Rent was 25%
higher than
Interior of a Pullman other areas.
Sleeper Car
Reasons for the Strike
Historical Context:
Depression of
1893 led to weak
economy.
Pullman cut
workers wages
but didnt cut rent
for apartments.
On May 10, 1894,
workers walked
out of their
factory.
Workers Walking Out
ARU Supports Pullman Workers
American Railway Union was a
national union of railway workers.
Eugene Debs, ARU leader, decided
to support Pullman strikers.
Across the nation, railway workers
refused to run trains that had
Pullman cars attached to them.
The country was paralyzed.
Eugene Debs

Eugene V. Debs, the rail union president at the time of

the strike, later campaigned as the American Socialist
presidential candidate.
President Grover Cleveland sends in
troops
Violence Erupts
Presence of
federal
troops set
off riots.
Rioters
burned
buildings.
Troops
killed 4
people and
wounded 20.
Results of the Pullman Strike
By August the strike fell apart
1,000 union workers were fired
New workers had to sign
contracts promising not to join a
union
Debs was arrested and jailed for
6 months