George Pullman: The Rise and Fall of the Sleeping Car King
Early Life and Career
George Pullman began his career in the construction industry, lifting and moving buildings in Chicago. He was a shrewd businessman with a keen eye for innovation, and he quickly recognized the potential of the railroad industry.
The Sleeping Car Revolution
Before the Civil War, railroads had become the dominant mode of transportation, and Pullman saw an opportunity to provide a more comfortable and luxurious travel experience. He designed and built the first high-quality sleeping cars, which quickly gained popularity among both business travelers and the wealthy.
Pullman’s Monopoly and Labor Unrest
Through buyouts and mergers, Pullman’s company gained a monopoly over the sleeping car industry. The Pullman Car Company became synonymous with quality and class, but Pullman’s success came at a price. He paid his African American porters starvation wages and imposed strict rules on his employees in the model town he built for them.
The Pullman Strike
In 1893, a financial panic plunged the nation into a deep depression. Pullman responded by laying off workers and cutting wages, but he refused to lower rents in his model town. Fed up with the company’s exploitation, Pullman’s employees went on strike in 1894.
The Pullman Strike and the American Railway Union
The Pullman strike was organized by the American Railway Union (ARU), a massive labor organization founded by Eugene V. Debs. The ARU voted to boycott Pullman cars until the strike was settled, shutting down many of the nation’s rail lines and causing a national crisis.
Government Intervention
The Pullman strike became a major test of the federal government’s role in labor disputes. Railroad corporations and their allies urged the government to intervene, and Attorney General Richard Olney declared that the country had reached “the ragged edge of anarchy.” President Grover Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago to break the strike.
The Strike’s Aftermath
The Pullman strike was eventually defeated, but it had a profound impact on the American labor movement and the nation’s political landscape. It led to the decline of the ARU and the rise of socialism as a force in American politics.
Pullman’s Legacy
George Pullman’s reputation never fully recovered from the Pullman strike. He was seen as a symbol of corporate greed and indifference to the plight of his workers. Pullman died in 1897, and his body was encased in reinforced concrete out of fear of desecration.
The Pullman Strike’s Impact on American History
The Pullman strike was a watershed moment in American history. It exposed the deep divisions between labor and capital in the Gilded Age and highlighted the need for government regulation of the railroad industry. The strike also helped to raise awareness of the plight of African American workers and the importance of labor unions.