Read the following primary source, then describe at least one cause and one effect of the Haymarket Affair:
Haymarket Affair: “Blood and the Bomb”
Chicago, ILL, May 4. —Great were the expectations of the socialistic leaders of running the meeting they had called for to-night. As early as 7:30 o’clock had been mentioned for the speaking, when the excitement would begin. The place chosen was the old hay market on Randolph street, capable of holding from 15,000 to 20,000 men. . . . The scene around the market about 8 p.m. showed that the scattered group of men loitering in the vicinity would make a crowd numbering not to exceed 1500.
A man who was standing in the crowd received a pistol ball in the thigh and has just been brought to the Central police station. He said that during the progress of the socialistic meeting a squad of officers marched by close to the speakers’ stand. Some one shouted, “kill the d—ds.” Almost as soon as the words had been uttered three bombs were thrown from near the stand into the midst of the squad of officers. They exploded instantly and five policemen fell.
Others were wounded, and several of the socialists did not escape. . . .
Later—more coherent accounts are coming in and they point to a much more disastrous affray than was at first reported. . . . At the time of the throwing of the bombs the crowd had dwindled down to less than a thousand.
The utterances of the speakers were still of a most inflammatory character, however, and the hearers who still remained grew riotous in demeanor. The police concluded to put an end to the disturbance, and advancing, ordered the crowd to disperse. At first the socialists fell back slowly, one of the speakers still urging them to stand firm. Suddenly the bombs were thrown. The police retorted instantly with a volley from their revolvers. The rioters answered with theirs, which shots showed they were provided with pistols. The mob appeared crazed with a frantic desire for blood, and holding its ground, poured volley after volley into the midst of the officers. The latter fought gallantly and at last dispersed the mob and cleared the marketplace.
—Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Wednesday, May 5, 1886
One cause of the Haymarket Affair was the inflammatory rhetoric used by the speakers at the socialistic meeting. The article describes the speeches as "of a most inflammatory character" and mentions that the hearers grew riotous in demeanor. This suggests that the provocative speeches may have incited the crowd and contributed to the escalating tensions.
One effect of the Haymarket Affair was the violent clash between the police and the rioters. After the police ordered the crowd to disperse, the rioters responded by throwing bombs and shooting at the officers. The article describes how the mob poured volley after volley into the midst of the officers, indicating a fierce and sustained exchange of gunfire. This resulted in casualties on both sides and a chaotic scene of violence in the marketplace.
Read the following secondary source, then describe at least one cause and one effect of the Homestead Strike:
Homestead Strike
The first and bloodiest of a series of industrial strikes in the 1890s, the Homestead Strike took place at the Carnegie Steel Company plant in Homestead, Pa., in 1892. It was precipitated when company manager Henry Clay Frick sought to impose a wage cut. When the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers refused his terms and called a strike on June 29, Frick brought in about 300 Pinkerton detectives to run the plant. On July 6 an armed clash occurred between workers and detectives, in which several were killed; soon afterward, the state militia was sent in. Under the soldiers' protection, nonunion laborers manned the steel mills from July 12 to November 20, when the strike collapsed. Frick’s success gravely weakened unionism in the steel industry, which was not unionized successfully until the 1930s.
Krause, P. The Battle for Homestead, 1880–1892 (1992).
(2 points)
One cause of the Homestead Strike was the attempt by company manager Henry Clay Frick to impose a wage cut. When the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers refused his terms, they called for a strike. Frick's decision to cut wages created a major point of contention and led to the workers' resistance.
One effect of the Homestead Strike was the weakening of unionism in the steel industry. After the armed clash between workers and detectives and the subsequent involvement of the state militia, the strike eventually collapsed. The use of nonunion laborers under the protection of the militia disempowered the striking workers and undermined their ability to negotiate better working conditions and wages. This setback significantly weakened unionism in the steel industry until the 1930s, when successful unionization finally took place.
Cause of the Haymarket Affair: One cause of the Haymarket Affair was the presence of socialistic leaders who had called for a meeting in Chicago. The expectation was that a large crowd would gather at the old hay market on Randolph street, but only a smaller group of men, numbering not more than 1500, were present. The inflammatory speeches delivered by the speakers at the meeting also contributed to the tense atmosphere.
Effect of the Haymarket Affair: The throwing of the bombs by unidentified individuals had a significant effect on the Haymarket Affair. Five policemen were killed instantly, while other police officers and socialists were also injured. The violence escalated as both sides exchanged gunfire, with the mob exhibiting a frantic desire for blood. Eventually, the police dispersed the rioters and cleared the marketplace, but the incident left a lasting impact on labor movements and the public perception of organized labor in the United States.