The Great Upheaval: Understanding the Great Railroad Strike of 1877

What was the "Great Upheaval"?

Can you provide details of the "Great Upheaval"?

Answer:

The Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, was a pivotal event that began on July 14 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It was sparked by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) cutting wages for the third time in a year.

The Great Upheaval, or the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, was a period of intense labor conflict that swept across the United States. The strike originated in Martinsburg, West Virginia, when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) announced yet another round of wage cuts. This decision was met with outrage from workers, leading to the first major strike of the emerging US labor movement.

As the strike spread, it paralyzed railroads in several states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Missouri. The unrest quickly escalated into violence and chaos, as strikers clashed with authorities and destroyed railway property. The impact of the Great Upheaval was felt nationwide, as cities descended into turmoil and the economy ground to a halt.

One of the defining moments of the Great Upheaval was the intervention of federal troops to suppress the strike. President Rutherford B. Hayes deployed federal troops to restore order and protect the interests of the railroads. The use of force against striking workers highlighted the deep divisions between labor and capital in industrial America.

In the aftermath of the Great Upheaval, the labor movement gained strength and momentum, paving the way for future labor reforms and protections. The strike of 1877 remains a symbol of the struggle for workers' rights and fair labor practices in the United States.