The Great Strike of
1877
It
was the summer of 1877, the US was amid its fourth year of a
depression, and wages were being reduced by another ten percent. It
started in Martinsburg, Virginia, and would spread to a number of
different cities throughout the US. “It was an explosion of
‘firsts.’” The Great Strike of 1877 was the first national
strike, as well as the first strike that had to be broken up by the
U.S. military.1
Also known as The Great Upheaval, it was the “most violent
labor-management confrontation” up until this point in American
history. It was the beginning of an era of controversy between
employees and employers.2
“The Great Strike
was a creature of one of the periodic economic downturns that have
caused misery for working people throughout U.S. history.”3
Following the Civil War, there was shift towards an industrial
economy; there was a massive rise in companies and corporations.
Railroad companies showed the most growth. “In 1850, barely more
than 2,000 miles of track had been laid. By 1877, over 79,000 miles
of track were in use, giving the U.S. by far the most extensive rail
system in the world.”4
On September 18, 1873, the nation entered a state of panic, a result
of financial institutions running out of means of financing due to
the distribution of bad loans. The Panic of 1873 sent America into an
economic depression. Out of the 364 railroads that existed at the
time, 89 went out of business. Other American companies also met the
same fate. By 1875, over 18,000 companies were unable to withstand
the economic burden and collapsed.5
There was a tremendous number of unemployed. As unemployment and the
depression continued, people were desperate for work. People, unable
to feed their families, were on the verge of starvation. According to
Labor’s Untold Story, written by Richard Boyer and Herbert
Morais, “By 1877 there were as many as three million unemployed
[roughly 27 percent of the working population]…And the wages of
those employed had been cut by as much as 45 percent, often to little
more than a dollar a day.”6
When
profits reached a low point that was unacceptable to stockholders, it
was the workers who had to suffer. Their wages would be cut further
or they would be terminated and forced to join the unemployed.7
“It began with wage cuts on railway after railway…”
and the cuts would finally reach the Martinsburg, West Virginia
station.8
It was announced on July 11, 1877, by the President of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad Company, that wages would be reduced by ten
percent to those receiving more than a dollar a day, effective on
July 16th. Workers were expected to accept the pay cut.
“It is hoped and believed that all persons in the service will
appreciate the necessity of, and concur cordially in, this action.”9
Workers would also be told that the workweek is being cut down to two
or three days.10
Fewer days would cause an even further decrease in income. Employers
did not fear strikes because with the large number of unemployed
American’s, if a worker disliked his pay or working conditions,
“…another hungry man would surely step forward to take his
place.”11
Like stated, on July 16th, the wage cut took effect, it
was the second wage cut in eight months.12
“At the Baltimore
& Ohio station in Martinsburg, West Virginia, workers determined
to fight the wage cut went on strike, uncoupled the engines, ran them
into the roundhouse, and announced no more trains would leave
Martinsburg until the 10% cut was cancelled.”13
Police reported to the scene and proved unsuccessful in getting the
workers to move the trains. Strikebreakers were requested, which only
angered strikers further. Strikers prevented strikebreakers from
operating the trains.14
B&O officials then requested the help of West Virginia Governor,
Henry Matthews. Matthews contacted the commander of the Berkeley
Light Guard, Charles Faulkner, Jr., and requested militiamen be sent.
The following day, the militiamen arrived in Martinsburg and
attempted to move their train out the station but efforts were
unsuccessful. “Firemen and rail workers stopped freight traffic
along the entire line of the B&O; passenger and mail service went
uninterrupted.”15
Since passengers were able to travel, the strike had no affect on
them directly. Strikers gain support and sympathy from the people.
“Workers suspected that the railroads were coordinating their
actions, blunting the effectiveness of the potential strike against
one road by agreeing to take up its lost traffic until the strike
ended.”16
July 17,
1877, an article, “Serious Strike” appeared in The Albany Argus
contains this excerpt:
“…The strikers have done no damage to property, and passenger
trains are expected to pass uninterrupted.”17
America had no idea how powerful and destructive this strike was
about to become.
Workers were uspet all over. “As fast as the strike was broken in
one place it appeared in another.”18
The strike showed up in cities throughout Pennsylvaina, Maryland,
Ohio, Illinois and others. Maryland’s governor put out a call for
the state militia. “Within an half hour of the call, ‘a crowd
numbering at least 2,000 men, woman, and children surrounded the
[Maryland Sixth Regiment] armory and loudly expressed their feelings
against the military and in favor of the strikes.’” 10 people
were killed.19
In Pittsburgh, striker sympathy was the strongest. “Railroad cars
were set afire, buildings began to burn, and finally the roundhouse
itself…There was more gunfire, the Union Depot was set afire,
thousands looted the freight cars. A huge grain elevator and a small
section of the city went up in flames. In a few days, twenty-four
people had been killed (including four soldiers). Seventy-nine
buildings had been burned to the ground. Something like a general
strike was developing in Pittsburgh…”20
11 days
after The Albany Argus announced that no property damage had been
made, an article in the American Railroad Journal included:
“The damage to railroad property has been very extensive …‘Wherever
any buildings or other real personal property shall be destroyed or
injured in consequence of any mob or riot, the city in which the same
shall occur, or if not in a city, then the county in which such
property was situated shall be liable to any action by or in behalf
of the party whose property was thus destroyed or injured for the
damages sustained by reason therefore.”21
On August 1, 1887,
the strike was over. After all was said and done, over 100,000 people
in fourteen states had been involved, thousands of people had gone to
jail, over 100 people were dead, and there was 5 million dollars
worth of property damage. “Its dramatic display of cooperative
power virtually ceased the movements of society and commerce.”22
“More than half the freight on the nation’s 75,000 miles of track
stopped moving.”23
The results of the strike are mixed. “The
spontaneity of the strike was both its strength and its weakness. The
lack of national coordination meant also that solidarity remained
local, with workers of each locality slugging it out separately from
the rest. In terms of
immediate gains, the strike failed. But, in the course of the
struggle, workers demonstrated in embryo all the basic elements for
working-class conquest of power: instinctive solidarity across racial
and ethnic lines, self-organization through elected committees and
the creation of armed worker-patrols to replace the authority of the
state.”24
In the 1880s, some companies began providing employees with some
medical benefits and pension plans.25
Days
after the strike ended, on August 4th,
an article appeared in the American Railroad Journal including this
excerpt:
“…further, let skill and fithful services be recognized and
rewarded by just compensation….We consider it as obligatory on the
part of the employers to compensate and encourage their workmen, as
it is for workmen to strive after excellence and to be faithful in
the persormance of their duty.”26
The
working mans work should never again go unappreciated.
1
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,” UE
News, http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
2
“Railroad Strike of 1877,” United States History,
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h717.html.
3
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,” UE
News, http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
4
Paul D’Amato, “The Great Strike of 1877,” Socialist Worker,
January 21, 2011,
http://socialistworker.org/2011/01/21/great-strike-of-1877.
5
Maryanne Malecki, “Historical Background of the Great Strike of
1877,” New York State Library, last updated January 11,
2012, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/background.htm.
6
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,” UE
News, http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
7
Maryanne Malecki, “Historical Background of the Great Strike of
1877,” New York State Library, last updated January 11,
2012, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/background.htm.
8
Howard Zinn, “1877: The great railroad strike,”
http://libcom.org/history/articles/us-rail-strikes-1877.
9
B&O Railroad Minute Book, “Announcement of Wage Cuts on the
B&O Railroad,” July 11, 1877,
http://teachingamericanhistorymd.net/000001/000000/000070/images/notice-copyright.jpg.
10
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,”
http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
11
Drew VandeCreek, “1877: The Great Strike,” Gilded Age,
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/gildedage/narr4.html.
12
Maryanne Malecki, “Historical Background of the Great Strike of
1877,” New York State Library, last updated January 11,
2012, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/background.htm.
13
Howard Zinn, “1877: The great railroad strike,”
http://libcom.org/history/articles/us-rail-strikes-1877.
14
Drew VandeCreek, “1877: The Great Strike,” Gilded Age,
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/gildedage/narr4.html.
15
Maryanne Malecki, “Historical Background of the Great Strike of
1877,” New York State Library, last updated January 11,
2012, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/background.htm.
16
Drew VandeCreek, “1877: The Great Strike,” Gilded Age,
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/gildedage/narr4.html.
17
“Serious Strike,” Albany Argus (Martinsburg, W. VA.),
July 17, 1877,
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/docs/1serious.htm.
18
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,” UE
News, http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
19
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,” UE
News, http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
20
Drew VandeCreek, “1877: The Great Strike,” Gilded Age,
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/gildedage/narr4.html.
21
“The Recent Railroad Damages,” American Railroad Journal,
July 28, 1877,
http://teachingamericanhistorymd.net/000001/000000/000070/html/t70.html.
22
Maryanne Malecki, “Historical Background of the Great Strike of
1877,” New York State Library, last updated January 11,
2012, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/background.htm.
23
“The Great Strike of 1877 - Remembering a Worker Rebellion,” UE
News, http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_1877.html.
24
Paul D’Amato, “The Great Strike of 1877,” Socialist Worker,
January 21, 2011,
http://socialistworker.org/2011/01/21/great-strike-of-1877.
25
Maryanne Malecki, “Historical Background of the Great Strike of
1877,” New York State Library, last updated January 11,
2012, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/teacherguides/strike/background.htm.
26
“A Strike at Strikes,” American Railroad Journal, August
4, 1877,
http://teachingamericanhistorymd.net/000001/000000/000070/html/t70.html.
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