Using Context and Subtext to Understand the Pullman Rail Strike of 1894 Bruce A. Lesh Franklin High School Reisterstown, Maryland Learning to Think Historically: A Tool for Attacking Historical Sources Text: What is visible/readable--what information is provided by the source? Context: What was going on during the time period? What background information do you have that helps explain the information found in the source? Subtext: What is between the lines? Must ask questions about: Author: Who created the source and what do we know about that person? Audience: For whom was the source created? Reason: Why was this source produced at the time it was produced? I do solemnly swear that my testimony will be based on the perspective of my source, nothing but the perspective of my source, even if it has an overt point- of-view, so help my first quarter grade. Directions for Congressional Hearing • Each team will testify in front of Congress • All team members will be asked questions • Testimony must be based on information found in your source • Members of Congress (everyone in the audience) must take notes on the testimony • Hearing must determine: – Who was at fault and why? – Were the president’s actions constitutionally justiEied? – Was Eugene Debs justly accused? – What lessons about the relationship between labor and management can be learned from the Pullman situation? George Pullman Pullman Railcars (Sleepers) Interior of Pullman Sleeper Cars Pullman, Illinois Main Street Pullman, Illinois Center Square, Pullman HPC1_81 Workers Homes—Pullman Pullman Axel Workers Depression of 1893 • 18% unemployment • 25% of urban workers • 1/3rd of manufacturing jobs • 1/10 banks close • 25% of railroads shut down • 50% drop in railroad construction • Pullman cuts wages for his workers by 25% Eugene V. Debs American Railway Union Wildcat Strike! Federal Injunction United States Attorney General Richard Olney President Grover Cleveland (D) Federal Troops Fire on Pullman Strikes, Harper’s Weekly Directions for Congressional Hearing • Each team will testify in front of Congress • All team members will be asked questions • Testimony must be based on information found in your source • Members of Congress (everyone in the audience) must take notes on the testimony • Hearing must determine: – Who was at fault and why? – Were the president’s actions constitutionally justified? – Was Eugene Debs justly accused? – What lessons about the relationship between labor and management can be learned from the Pullman situation? Labor, Management, and the Federal Government: The Pullman Strike After the 12,000 troops and 4,000 strike breakers left Chicago, George Pullman required returning workers to sign yellow-dog contracts, Eugene Debs was arrested, and President Cleveland dedicated the first Monday in September as Labor Day. As the President’s key speech writer, you have been asked to prepare a short 2-3 minute speech announcing the new holiday. As you craft your speech, be sure to address: • The causes of the strike • The role played by George Pullman, Eugene Debs, and President Cleveland • Responsibility for the problems at Pullman • The reasons President Cleveland provided to justify his actions • The outcome of the strike _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________ .