Homestead Strike of 1892

Definition

The Homestead Strike was an industrial lockout and strike at the Carnegie Steel Company's Homestead, Pennsylvania plant over wage cuts, which culminated in a battle between strikers and private security agents.

Analogy

Imagine you're part of a school team working on a big project. Suddenly, your teacher decides to grade harder but still expects the same level of work. You and your teammates might refuse to continue until fair grading is restored. This is similar to what happened during the Homestead Strike.

Related terms

Carnegie Steel Company: An American steel producing company created by Andrew Carnegie and several close associates to manage businesses at steel mills in the Pittsburgh area.

Industrial Lockout: A temporary work stoppage or denial of employment initiated by management during labor dispute.

Pinkerton Agency: A private security guard and detective agency established in U.S., hired by Carnegie Steel Company during Homestead Strike.