Although the Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor were significant labor unions, they were not the only ones. Many other labor unions were around and went on strike to counter against big corporations in order to fight for better wages or conditions.
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877The Great Railroad strike came about because wages were cut a second time in a year for workers of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company. Both the state and federal militia were sent to break it up, and it eventually did after forty-five days. It impacted the nation by showing the power of unionizing together and inspired other people to join labor unions.
| The Pullman strike was important because it was between railroads (the Pullman Palace Company) and the United Railroad Union. The workers went on strike because of wage cuts and in the end suffered a defeat because President Cleveland issued the U.S. army to break up the strike for the reason it interfered with the U.S. mail. |