During the great railroad strike of 1877 the workers held many rights included in the Constitution and purely as citizens of the United States. The government also held responsibilities to the people. In this time workers rights were violated and not met by the government which held the responsibility to fulfill these rights.This was a very chaotic and enraged time by both the working class and the government.
In 1877 the United States was entering its 4th year of depression, poverty was great among many families. Workers held the right to make a living for themselves although many working were still starving.
Railway workers went on strike in West Virginia because wages were being cut 10% when workers were already subjected to low wages, such as $1.75 for working twelve hours a day. Deaths and injuries were high, workers endured harsh working conditions that caused loss of fingers, hands, toes, feet, legs, and many other body parts. Workers held the right as citizens to work in safe conditions and receive equal pay for equal work but the government also held the responsibility to ensure that they were getting treated fairly and that the railway owners were not dictating them. Soon after the governor sent in the states militia and a striker was shot. This man died 9 days later, but the people hold the right to act out publicly.
Government officials were asked to send in militias due to the violent destruction caused by the strikers, it is the governments responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens. The strikers spread to Pittsburgh when Pennsylvania Railroad stated it would double all eastbound trains to Pittsburgh with no increase in the size of its workers. Upon finding this out workers refused to work and gained control of the railways blocking the movement of trains. This shows the workers held the right to refuse to work and be subjected to harsh labor.
In the end federal troops were sent in to gain control of Pittsburgh. Rutherford B. Hayes, the newly elected president, held the responsibility to step in and control these strikes before they got out of hand, but did not. The government also held the responsibility to not enforce and allow unfair regulations on workers and to protect their rights.
In 1877 the United States was entering its 4th year of depression, poverty was great among many families. Workers held the right to make a living for themselves although many working were still starving.
Railway workers went on strike in West Virginia because wages were being cut 10% when workers were already subjected to low wages, such as $1.75 for working twelve hours a day. Deaths and injuries were high, workers endured harsh working conditions that caused loss of fingers, hands, toes, feet, legs, and many other body parts. Workers held the right as citizens to work in safe conditions and receive equal pay for equal work but the government also held the responsibility to ensure that they were getting treated fairly and that the railway owners were not dictating them. Soon after the governor sent in the states militia and a striker was shot. This man died 9 days later, but the people hold the right to act out publicly.
Government officials were asked to send in militias due to the violent destruction caused by the strikers, it is the governments responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens. The strikers spread to Pittsburgh when Pennsylvania Railroad stated it would double all eastbound trains to Pittsburgh with no increase in the size of its workers. Upon finding this out workers refused to work and gained control of the railways blocking the movement of trains. This shows the workers held the right to refuse to work and be subjected to harsh labor.
In the end federal troops were sent in to gain control of Pittsburgh. Rutherford B. Hayes, the newly elected president, held the responsibility to step in and control these strikes before they got out of hand, but did not. The government also held the responsibility to not enforce and allow unfair regulations on workers and to protect their rights.