07/24/2026
This is the final part of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. Check out our page for the previous parts!
When the strike began on July 16th, 1877, people were rallying against lower wages, unsafe working conditions, and a general feeling of defeat. When the dust settled by early August, it was unclear if the workers were able to achieve any of their immediate goals.
In the direct aftermath, anyone identified as a "ringleader" of the workers were fired and blacklisted from the railroad industry. Further still, the cut in pay that initially began the strike remained with few exceptions. Militia men who refused to fire on their neighbors were also punished, being dismissed by their respective governors.
But the 1877 strike had far-reaching effects. For a start, the strike showed that regular people had more power over their workplaces than they thought. American newspapers decried this action as Communism, but in truth, the strike only brought increased unionization. The real worker victories would come in the next few decades thanks to further strikes like the Pullman Strike in 1894 and labor-friendly political leaders like both Roosevelt presidents.
Government and industry also learned lessons from the 1877 strike. Before the strike, militias were built similar to volunteer firefighter units. While the state maintained them, most militia men were reactive to threats and spent most of their time in civilian life. After the 1877 strike, it became clear that a more serious and better organized labor movement could easily upturn this system. The National Guard system we know today began as a reaction to the 1877 strike; by professionalizing the militias (and thus separating the soldiers from their neighbors), governors could better rely on them to stop labor movements.
In 1887, ten years after the strike, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was formed to oversee and regulate companies that operate across state lines. At the time, this meant primarily the railroad industry. This legislation was passed with unanimous support from the "Robber Barons," and while this did mean railroads would have more regulation, it also meant that the US government would directly involve itself in disputes between corporations and workers. This was clearly a move made in fear of another strike like 1877.
It's not an exaggeration to say that this massive labor strike against the railroad industry changed the nation forever. While the Robber Barons of the railroads certainly shaped our nation, it's easy to forget that the men and women running those tracks had just as much of an impact on our country, if not more.
Thank you for tuning in to the City Park Train Hub page for the Great Railroad Strike of 1877! Don't forget to visit the Train Hub during our operating hours! We are open Fridays and Saturdays 10am-4pm and Sundays 12pm-4pm.
