The American Republic Since 1877 © 2007

"The 1892 Homestead Mill Strike"

Introduction
As you learned in this chapter, employers in the 1800s generally regarded unions as an interference in the progress of production. Employers discouraged unions and strikes with several methods, including dismissal, blacklisting, and lockouts. Sometimes workers' confrontations with owners led to violence and bloodshed. In 1892 at the Homestead Mill, a disagreement between union workers and Carnegie Steel turned into a brutal battle that left ten people dead. Although Andrew Carnegie professed to support labor and empathize with workers' needs, Carnegie ended up subjugating the power of steel unions. Go to this Web site to discover the reason why the union went on strike, the surprising response of citizens, and what Carnegie did to gain control of his labor force.

Destination Title: The Richest Man In the World: Andrew Carnegie

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Directions

Start at The Richest Man In the World: Andrew Carnegie Web site.

• Click on Special Features.
• Scroll down and click on Making Money the Old Fashioned Way.
• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.

1			What sparked the violence at the Homestead Mill?
2			Who were the Pinkertons?
3			Describe the battle between workers, citizens, and the Pinkertons.
4			What was the result of the strike?
5			Imagine that the Homestead Mill strike has just ended, and your job, as editor of a Pennsylvania newspaper, is to comment on the strike's outcome. On a separate sheet of paper, write an editorial that describes the factors that, in your opinion, led to violence. Be sure to identify leading figures in the conflict and the results of the strike.