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Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Definition

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a series of strikes in response to wage cuts announced by the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad. The strike affected much of the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States.

Analogy

Think about it like this - you and your friends are playing a game where you're all working together to build a massive Lego city. Suddenly, the person who's supplying all the Legos decides they're going to give you fewer pieces but still expects you to build just as much. You'd probably be upset and refuse to play until things were fair again, right? That's essentially what happened with the Great Railroad Strike.

Related terms

Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad: One of the oldest railroads in the United States, it played a significant role in developing transportation infrastructure in America.

Labor Unions: Organizations that represent workers' interests and negotiate with employers on their behalf for better wages, working conditions, etc.

Industrial Revolution: A period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840 when major changes occurred in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport, and technology that had profound effects on socioeconomic conditions worldwide.