how did the 1877 Haymarket strike cause the public to resent the labor movement?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_Riot
The 1877 Haymarket Strike actually refers to the events surrounding the Haymarket Riot, which took place on May 4, 1886, in Chicago, Illinois. While the strike itself did not directly cause resentment towards the labor movement, the subsequent riot and its aftermath played a significant role in shaping public perception.
To understand how the riot caused public resentment, we'll need to look into the events leading up to it. The Haymarket Riot occurred during the larger labor movement known as the eight-hour work day movement. Workers across the United States demanded that their workday be reduced to eight hours to improve their working conditions and provide better wages.
On May 1, 1886, a general strike took place across the United States, known as the May Day or the Haymarket affair. During this protest, numerous labor activists called for workers to strike and demonstrate for the eight-hour work day. The strike gained significant support and led to various protests and rallies.
On May 3, 1886, a labor demonstration took place at Haymarket Square in Chicago. The gathering was largely peaceful until the police arrived to disperse the crowd. As the police attempted to break up the protest, an unidentified individual threw a bomb into the crowd. Chaos ensued, and both the police and protesters began exchanging gunfire. The riot resulted in several deaths and injuries, including police officers.
The bombing and subsequent riot had a polarizing effect on public opinion. Many people placed blame on the labor movement, associating it with violence and chaos. Although the perpetrator of the bomb was never definitively proven, eight labor activists were charged and tried for the crime. Despite insufficient evidence linking them to the bombing, seven of them were convicted, with four sentenced to death.
The trial itself was highly controversial, with claims of a biased judge and a lack of concrete evidence. Nonetheless, the public perception of the labor movement was significantly tarnished, as the riots were widely reported in the media, subsequently fueling anti-labor sentiments.
In conclusion, the Haymarket Riot of 1886 caused the public to resent the labor movement due to the perception that it promoted violence and anarchy. The bombing and subsequent trial painted a negative picture of the labor movement in the eyes of many, and this association of the movement with the riot led to increased hostility towards the labor movement.