Following the economic depression caused by the Panic of 1893 George Pullman increased working hours, cut wages and cut jobs.

The workers belonged to the American Railroad Union (ARU) founded by Eugene V. Debs. The workers protested and started the Pullman Strike on May 11, 1894 and violence broke out.  George Pullman and the railroads gained the support of President Cleveland for the use of US troops who used harsh methods to suppress the strikers. Debs was sent to jail and the strike was broken by July 17, 1894.

The 1894 Pullman Strike for kids
The 1894 Pullman Strike pitted the workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company owned by 'Robber Baron' George Mortimer Pullman. The strike erupted following harsh measures by George Pullman to recoup his profits following the economic depression caused by the Panic of 1893. The Pullman strike spread across the nation and was suppressed by federal troops.

1894 Pullman Strike Significance
The Pullman Strike was highly significant:

• The President authorized the use of federal troops to put down the strike

• Federal courts were used to curtail union activity

• The American Railway Union was destroyed

Pullman City, Chicago, Illinois
George Pullman built a model city to house his workers and they were required to live there. The model city centered around the factory and consisted of over 1000 homes and public buildings included a  bank, church, library, theatre, post office and parks. But everything came at a cost. Workers were even charged to use the library. Rent was taken out of the wages. Investors in the city expected a 6% return on their investment. And workers were expected to adhere to a code of behavior. George Pullman wanted total control over his workforce. 

Pullman Strike for kids
Interesting facts about the Pullman Strike are detailed below.

The labor force at the Pullman Palace Car Company was reduced from 5,500 to 3,300

The Pullman pay cuts averaged 25% per employee and wages were based on piece-work

As the dispute spread, over 100,000 employees working on 24 railroads centering at Chicago were involved in the strike

Deaths: During the violent dispute, 12 people were shot

Number of Arrests: Over 500 strikers were arrested and over 400 found guilty

Reasons for the arrests included conspiracy to commit offenses and restrict trade, murder, assault, arson, burglary, intimidation and inciting to riot

The arrests included Officers of the American Railway Union and Eugene V. Debs, George W. Howard and Sylvester Keliher were found guilty  of different offences.

Union leader Eugene V. Debs was jailed for six months for contempt of court.

The loss in wages of the Pullman strikers is estimated as at least $350,000

Workers representatives met with the company owner George Pullman but he refused to restore the wages or to reduce rents. The representatives were later dismissed from the company.

In the early Spring of 1894 the company announced that the workers either accepted a wage cut or the factory would have to shut.

By May the workers protested they were unable to survive on the wages and asked the company to restore the old rates of pay.

The Pullman company refused and on May 11, 1894, the workers walked out in a 'wildcat' strike forcing the factory to close

The American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, stepped in. Eugene Debs ordered a nationwide boycott of all Pullman cars that covered most railroads in the country encouraging protests from the porters, engineers, brakemen, and switchmen.

The protests, rallies and demonstrations turned violent. There were riots, property was destroyed trains were derailed. Any workers attempting to work were threatened and intimidated.

Governor Altgeld sent local militia to quell the riots - but many of the militia openly sympathized with the strikers.

George Pullman and the owners of the railroads applied pressure on President Cleveland and his administration.

The strikers had resisted deputy marshals and had hindered to US postal service which gave the President a reason to send in Federal troops.

On July 2, 1894 a Federal writ was issued forbidding all interference with the US mail and with interstate railroad commerce.

The Federal troops consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery were sent in to enforce the writ and clashed violently with the strikers, there were deaths and serious injuries

Violence and riots spread across the country and the President threatened the strikers with the full force of the US Army and Labor leaders and strikers were arrested.

The government argued that by striking, the railroad workers were placing a restraint on trade and commerce, resulting in a direct violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The Pullman strikers were unable to resist the might of the United States government and on August 5, 1894 all labor action was stopped - the Pullman Strike was over.

Four years later the 1898 Erdman Railway Labor Act set up arbitration procedures to settle railway disputes.