Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How quickly did the Pullman boycott spread across railroads west of Chicago?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Pullman Strike
A shantytown on the lakefront in Chicago during the Pullman Strike and general economic downturn of 1893β94.
The boycott of Pullman cars by the American Railway Union (ARU) spread with remarkable speed across railroads west of Chicago following the union's decision to initiate the action on June 22, 1894.1
The rapid escalation of the boycott occurred as follows:
- June 27: One day after the deadline for arbitration passed, 5,000 workers left their jobs, resulting in 15 railroads being tied up.1
- June 28: The number of strikers surged to 40,000, and rail traffic was snarled on all lines west of Chicago.1
- June 29: By the third day, the number of strikers reached 100,000, with at least 20 lines either stopped or tied up.1
- June 30: The boycott involved 125,000 workers across 29 railroads who refused to handle Pullman cars.1
This swift mobilization demonstrated the effectiveness of the ARU's strategy, particularly among switchmen, as the strike quickly disrupted the national rail network.12