what was the lending cause of the pullman strike

The main cause of the Pullman Strike was the reduction in wages for the workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company without a corresponding decrease in the rent and costs for goods in the company town of Pullman, Chicago. The company, owned by George Pullman, manufactured luxury railroad cars and established a company town where its workers lived. Due to an economic downturn that began in 1893, the demand for Pullman cars decreased, prompting the company to cut jobs and reduce wages by about 25%. However, the company did not lower the rent and prices in the company-owned housing and stores, which put financial strain on the workers. In response to these hardships, the workers, with the support of the newly formed American Railway Union (ARU) led by Eugene V. Debs, went on strike on May 11, 1894. The strike escalated when the ARU began boycotting trains that included Pullman cars, effectively paralyzing railroad traffic in and out of Chicago. This had a profound impact on national rail transportation and led to a wider conflict involving federal troops and ending with significant violence.

Extra: The Pullman Strike is an important piece of labor history because it underlines the struggles of workers during the Industrial Revolution. During this time, many business owners prioritized efficiency and profit over the well-being of their employees. The company town of Pullman was originally designed to be a model community, but it also allowed the company substantial control over the workers' lives. In addition to their wages being reduced, workers had no say in the running of the town or the prices they had to pay for rent and goods, as the company controlled everything.

The strike's significance goes beyond the immediate effects of the wage cuts. It raised questions about the rights of workers, the responsibilities of employers, and the role of government in industrial disputes. The federal government's intervention in the conflict, which included a court injunction against the strike and the sending of federal troops, was seen by many as a sign that the government was taking the side of big business against organized labor.

Furthermore, the Pullman Strike set a precedent for labor relations in the United States. It was one of the first times a federal injunction had been used to break a strike, and it prompted a national discussion on workers' rights and the concept of fair labor practices. The event also contributed to the establishment of Labor Day as a national holiday as a conciliatory gesture towards the labor movement, which President Grover Cleveland signed into law just days after the strike ended. This was meant to honor the contributions of workers and as an attempt to repair ties with American labor.