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
The excerpt describes the events of the Haymarket Affair in Chicago on May 4, 1886. The socialistic leaders had called for a meeting at the old hay market, expecting a large crowd. However, only around 1500 people were present initially. During the meeting, a squad of officers marched by and someone in the crowd shouted to kill them. In response, three bombs were thrown at the officers, resulting in the death of five policemen and the injury of others, as well as some of the socialists. The police then ordered the remaining crowd to disperse, but they refused and engaged in a violent clash with the officers. The police eventually dispersed the mob and cleared 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 company manager's decision to impose a wage cut. Henry Clay Frick, the manager of the Carnegie Steel Company plant, sought to reduce the wages of the workers. However, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers, the union representing the workers, refused to accept the wage cuts and called for a strike.
One effect of the Homestead Strike was the weakening of unionism in the steel industry. Despite the initial resistance shown by the workers, the strike ultimately collapsed under the pressure of the state militia and nonunion laborers who took over the steel mills. This gave a significant blow to unionism in the steel industry, and it was not until the 1930s that successful unionization efforts were finally achieved.
Read the following primary source, then describe at least one cause and one effect of the Pullman Strike:
“The Federal Government and the Chicago Strike”
THE GREATEST INDUSTRIAL BATTLE IN HISTORY.
The Chicago strike was in many respects the grandest industrial battle in history, and I am prouder of my small share in it than of any other act of my life.
Men, women and children were on the verge of starvation at the “model city” of Pullman. They had produced the fabulous wealth of the Pullman corporation, but they, poor souls, were compelled to suffer the torment of hunger pangs in the very midst of the abundance their labor had created.
A hundred and fifty thousand railroad employees, their fellow members in the American Railway Union, sympathized with them, shared their earnings with them, and after trying in every peaceable way they could conceive of to touch the flint heart of the Pullman company—every overture being rejected, every suggestion denied, every proposition spurned with contempt—they determined not to pollute their hands and dishonor their manhood by handling Pullman cars and contributing to the suffering and sorrow of their brethren and their wives and babes. And rather than do this they laid down their tools in a body, sacrificed their situations and submitted to persecution, exile and the blacklist; to idleness, poverty, crusts and rags, and I shall love and honor these moral heroes to my latest breath.
President Cleveland says that we were put down because we had acted in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust law of 1890. Will he kindly state what other trusts were proceeded against and what capitalists were sentenced to prison during his administration?
—Eugene V. Debs, from Debs: His Life, Writings and Speeches
(2 points)
One cause of the Pullman Strike was the poor living and working conditions of the employees in the model city of Pullman. The workers were experiencing starvation and living in poverty, despite being the ones who had produced the wealth for the Pullman corporation. Their labor had created abundance, yet they were suffering from hunger and deprivation. The workers, along with the support of their fellow members in the American Railway Union, tried peaceful means to negotiate with the Pullman company to improve their situation. However, their efforts were met with rejection, denial, and contempt, leading to their decision to go on strike and refuse to handle Pullman cars.
One effect of the Pullman Strike was the persecution, exile, and blacklisting of the striking workers. As a result of their refusal to handle Pullman cars and their participation in the strike, the workers sacrificed their jobs and faced various consequences. They were subjected to persecution and exile, being forced out of their positions and separated from their livelihoods. Additionally, they were blacklisted, making it difficult for them to find employment elsewhere. This led to a period of idleness, poverty, and reliance on meager resources, such as crusts and rags, for their survival. The strike and its aftermath had a significant impact on the lives of the workers involved, emphasizing their moral heroism in standing up for their rights and dignity.
Write a letter from the point of view of a participant in one of these events. (14 points)
Your letter should be at least 500 words (1 page)
You can take the role of anyone present: a worker on strike, a factory owner, a police officer, etc. Just be sure to include the following details:
Why workers were striking, be sure to discuss the working conditions of this era & what events led to the particular strike you participated in (i.e., the “cause” from your chart).
The events that took place during the strike. Use the primary sources provided to help provide detail.
The effect of this strike. What was the outcome? Was the strike effective or not?
(14 points)
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
[Recipient's Name]
[Recipient's Position/Organization]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Recipient's Name],
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing this letter as a participant in the [Name of Strike], narrating my experiences and sharing my perspective on the events that transpired during this historic labor struggle.
First and foremost, I want to shed light on the reasons why we, the workers, were compelled to go on strike. The working conditions during this era were nothing short of deplorable. Long working hours, low wages, and hazardous working environments were our everyday reality. We were forced to toil for many hours a day, often risking our lives in factories without any rights or protections.
The events that led to this particular strike were the constant exploitation and disregard for our humanity by the factory owners. We had been slogging away day and night, producing wealth for the company, only to find ourselves suffering from starvation and living in abject poverty. In the case of the [Name of Company], the wage cut imposed by the management was the last straw. The callousness with which they treated us, their hardworking employees, led to a collective uprising.
During the strike, tensions continued to rise as both sides tried to assert their positions. We, the workers, stood united, determined to fight for our rights. The rallies, meetings, and demonstrations were marked by a sense of solidarity and a fervent desire for change. We were not just striking for ourselves but for future generations, fighting against the injustices and exploitation that had become deeply embedded in our society.
The primary sources provided paint a vivid picture of the events that unfolded during the strike. Dennis in "The Federal Government and the Chicago Strike" captures the enormity of the battle we fought and the pride he feels for being a part of it. Eugene V. Debs, in his passionate statement, highlights the extreme poverty and suffering we endured, as well as the sacrifices we made to stand up against the oppressive forces of the Pullman corporation.
The strike had a profound impact on both sides. The outcome, however, was not as favorable as we had hoped. The powers-that-be, seeking to maintain the status quo and protect their profits, unleashed repressive forces to quell our demands. The use of violence, such as the clash between workers and Pinkerton detectives, only intensified the stakes of the conflict. The state militia was eventually called in to suppress the strike, resulting in persecution, exile, and blacklisting for many of us.
In the short term, the strike may have seemed unsuccessful, as it did not achieve all of its immediate goals. However, it served as a catalyst for change in our society. It sparked conversations, drew attention to the plight of the workers, and laid the foundation for future labor movements. The efforts of the workers, the sacrifices we made, and the unity we displayed eventually helped pave the way for better working conditions and labor rights in the years to come.
In conclusion, the [Name of Strike] was a critical moment in our fight for justice and dignity. We braved immense challenges, stood united, and demanded better treatment from those in power. Though the immediate victories may have been few, the long-term impact of our actions should not be underestimated. We are a part of a larger struggle, one that seeks to create a fairer and more equitable society for all.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]