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The Haymarket Riot of 1886

            In 1886 in the windy city of Chicago an important event occurred in the history of the United States called the Haymarket Riot. During this time the Knights of Labor were very popular and maintained a respectable status. After the riot the Knights of Labor were held liable for the occurrence and eight of the leaders were convicted for being part of the Haymarket Square Riot. After the Knights of Labor reputation was lost, the American Federation of Labor gained popularity and soon became the most dominate labor union in America. American workers have been protesting as early as the 1760's for better working conditions. Workers were not considered to have rights or protection. Immigrants made up a significant percentage of the workers during this time and they came to America for a job to provide for their families. Most of the immigrants were not skilled workers who would work for cheap wages and long hours. Skilled labor workers were favored more than the unskilled workers during the labor movement that is why unskilled workers joined unions to protest. Since 1867, a law was passed for federal employees and workers in Illinois that supposedly protected employees for an eight hour a day. Unfortunately that law didn't stick because workers were working well over eight hours a day. In the summer of 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions began talking about creating a national strike for an eight hour work day. This reached attention nationwide after a questionnaire was sent out to employers.
             It all started with one company in the 1840's called McCormick Harvester Works. The company made various farming equipment which included the reaper. Cyrus McCormick owned the company and was a kind gentleman that knew all 43 of his employees by name. The factory grew over time but Cyrus still managed to know all his employees. During this time the way of business was very personable and as corporations started to take over everything changed dramatically.


Essays Related to The Haymarket Riot of 1886

1. Unions

By 1886 more than 700,000 joined. ... The final blow against the nights was the Haymarket Square incident that took place in 1886. ... On May 4, a protest meeting was called by an antichrist group to discuss the events of the preceding day at Haymarket Square. ... In 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AF of L) was formed and replaced the Knights of Labor. ... Rioting and destruction of several cities surfaced with the efforts to stop the strike. ...

  • Word Count: 2512
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Immigration In America

Halting Immigration Since the beginning of time, many of the world's problems have been blamed on immigration because many refuse to customize themselves to their way of life. Kraut says, "Nativists were those Americans who believed that the immigrants posed an imminent danger to their way of l...

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3. A true Anarchist: Emma Goldman

A major turning point in her life and crucial to the development of her anarchist beliefs was definitely the Haymarket strike. ... The Haymarket Bombing The Haymarket Riot of 1886 was one of the most violent incidents of labor unrest in the late nineteenth century. On May 1, 1886, mass strikes and the largest spontaneous labor demonstration in the country's history took place in Chicago near the McCormick reaper factory. ... On 4 May 1886, labor groups reallied at Haymarket Square, near downtown Chicago to protest against police brutality, after two unionists were killed when polic...

  • Word Count: 7067
  • Approx Pages: 28
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Union Development

In 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AF of L) was formed and replaced the Knights of Labor. ... Rioting and destruction of several cities surfaced with the efforts to stop the strike. ... The Haymarket Square incident took place nine years later in 1886. ... On May 4, a bomb 6 exploded in Haymarket Square during a meeting called to discuss the events of the preceding day (Connolly). ... The next riots came in 1892, at Carnegie's steel works in Homestead, Pennsylvania. ...

  • Word Count: 2529
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The American Labor Movement

In 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AF of L) was formed and replaced the Knights of Labor. ... Rioting and destruction of several cities surfaced with the efforts to stop the strike. ... (Department of Humanities, 2) The Haymarket Square incident took place nine years later in 1886. ... On May 4, a bomb exploded in Haymarket Square during a meeting called to discuss the events of the preceding day. ... (Department of Humanities, 2) The next riots came in 1892, at Carnegie's steel works in Homestead, Pennsylvania. ...

  • Word Count: 2178
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Labor Unions

Powderly, but gradually fell apart in 1886. After involvement in the Haymarket Square rebellion, the union (open to all members of the working class) became associated with anarchism. ... At the famous Haymarket square incident, 8 anarchists were rounded up for allegedly throwing a bomb during an otherwise peaceful labor demonstration and 5 were sentenced to be hung without any evidence incriminating them. ... In the event of a labor riot or uprising, corporations could hire pricy lawyers, or buy up local media to discount any movement buy labor unions. ...

  • Word Count: 1494
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Populism and the Knights of Labor

However, failure in the Missouri Pacific Railroad strike in 1886 and the Haymarket Square Riot of the same year quickly eroded the Knights' influence. ... The Haymarket incident was certainly essential in that it transformed a skeptical public into vocal opponents of the group. ...

  • Word Count: 1563
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Anarchy

"The execution and imprisonment of eight anarchists in Chicago in 1886 sparked anarchism's growth in the United States. The "Haymarket Eight" flourished anarchists such as Voltairine de Cleyre and Lucy Parsons. Parsons was born into slavery and later became an anarchist and an ardent speaker and working class rebel; the Chicago police labeled Parsons, "...more dangerous than a thousand rioters" (Rogers 38). ...

  • Word Count: 1463
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. 19th Century History

Secret groups, organized meetings, riots and governmental legislation were just a few of the numerous outcomes generated during and following this significant time in American history. ... In Philadelphia in the year 1844, a riot broke out between Philadelphia nativists in the American Nativist Party and Irish Philadelphian's. ... (Fitzgerald) Other riots among the two divided groups included, one in The Haymarket in 1886 in Chicago Illinois. This riot ultimately led nativists to be enraged with foreign born extremists, especially Catholics and minorities. (Grant) A similar riot occurr...

  • Word Count: 1884
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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