What were the lessons learned from the Great Railroad Strike of 1877?

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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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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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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Labor activism and the railways are inextricably linked in US history. In 1877, railroad workers were fighting for labor justice too. Years of pay cuts, weak labor protections, and ruthless exploitation by their employers led them to walk off their jobs in a series of strikes across the country.

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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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The strike had a major impact on the national economy because workers in other industries joined the strike. The strike had a major impact on the national economy because it prevented trade and commerce.

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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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The railroad opened the way for the settlement of the West, provided new economic opportunities, stimulated the development of town and communities, and generally tied the country together.

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Rail is critical to the entire goods side of the economy, including manufacturing, warehousing, retail and agriculture. If a rail strike lasts more than three to four weeks, the prices of goods would likely jump again, further exacerbating inflation, according to economist Mark Zandi.

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Railroads became a major industry, stimulating other heavy industries such as iron and steel production. These advances in travel and transport helped drive settlement in the western regions of North America and were integral to the nation's industrialization.

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Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down. A strike would cause $2 billion a day in lost economic output, according to the Association of American Railroads, which lobbies on behalf of rail companies. Rail transports about 40% of the nation's long-distance freight and one-third of exports.

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From Pittsburgh, the 1877 railroad strike—which was really a wave of strikes—spread westward to cities like Chicago and St. Louis. In these and some other cities, the railroad strike turned into a general strike as non-railroad workers joined in to protest poor pay and working conditions.

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