Was the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 a failure?

By the time the strikes were over, about 1,000 people had gone to jail and some 100 had been killed. In the end the strike accomplished very little. Some national politicians talked of labour reforms, but nothing came of it. Industrialists continued to cut wages and break unions.



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A prolonged rail strike could create all types of shortages, from gasoline to food to automobiles, and cause a spike in the prices of all types of consumer goods. It can screw up the commutes of tens of thousands of workers who take the train to work, slow the delivery of parts and force factories to shut down.

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Last fall, many union railroad workers in the United States did not have paid sick days. Now, more than sixty percent of them do, Reuters reports. It has been a process of slow, piecemeal wins over many months—and a testament to the continued push of high-profile politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont).

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The strengthening of the police, state militia, and the United States Army to prepare for future conflicts became one of the most enduring legacies of the Great Strike. Within two weeks of the strike, Chicago authorities developed a plan to augment their police force and the Illinois militia.

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How did the Great Railroad strike of 1877 demonstrate the power of workers? The strike showed that workers could slow or even stop the economy.

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What is the main reason that the US government wanted to avoid large-scale railroad strikes after the Great Railroad Strike of 1877? Railroad strikes were a threat to economic prosperity and national security.

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George M. Pullman refused to meet with workers to hear their requests for higher wages, lower rents, and better working conditions. In protest, Pullman workers walked off the job on May 11, 1894. The American Railway Union agreed to assist Pullman workers.

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Answer and Explanation: The main lesson learned by the railroad workers was that they needed to have some formal and official representation in a trade union. As a result, the Knights of Labor increased its membership and the B & O Railroad established a relief association for worker benefits.

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