Pullman Strike (Red, White, and Red)

The Pullman Strike was a nation-wide strike by railway workers that lasted from May of 1894 to September 1894. Often regarded as the most influential political strike in the history of the United States, the Pullman Strike led to the growth of sympathy towards the unionist, labor, and socialist movements that eventually led to the creation of the People's Republic of America.

Background
The labor movement in the United States had been fomenting since the 1870s with railway unions leading the general movement. The primary goal of early labor unions, frequently called "brotherhoods", was to promote fraternity amongst members of a given craft. Eventually, and largely due to work laid out by Samuel Gompers and Eugene Debs, unions began to practice collective bargaining, and organizing strikes.

The Pullman Palace Car Company was a railway company based out of the Pullman district of Chicago, Illinois. The owner was multi-millionaire George Pullman, who operated a company town. The company forced all employees to pay the company for shelter and food, as well as other basic needs.

The workers launched what an impromptu strike to protest wage reductions starting May 11. The local labor leaders then called upon Debs' American Railway Union to support the strike.