The Scranton general strike of 1877 was the final major violent episode of the Great Railroad Strike in Pennsylvania, ending with martial law and no worker concessions.
Key Facts
- Strike start date
- July 23, 1877
- Strike end date
- October 17, 1877
- Deaths from August 1 violence
- 4 people
- Arrests for murder
- More than a score individuals
- Outcome for workers
- No concessions won
- Military response
- State and federal troops; martial law imposed
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The strike arose from wage cuts imposed on railroad workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, occurring within the broader context of the 1877 Great Railroad Strike that swept across the United States. Economic grievances drove workers from multiple industries to join the initial railroad walkout, swelling the stoppage to potentially thousands of participants within days.
Beginning July 23, 1877, Scranton workers staged a general strike that paralyzed multiple industries. On August 1, a mob attacked the town's mayor and clashed with local militia, resulting in four deaths and many wounded. State and federal troops were subsequently deployed, and martial law was declared to restore order.
The strike ended on October 17 with workers having won no concessions. More than twenty participants faced murder charges but were acquitted of manslaughter; one individual was convicted in a libel suit stemming from published criticism of the militia. The local militia was subsequently reorganized into a battalion of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Political Outcome
Strike suppressed by martial law; workers returned without concessions; local militia reformed into Pennsylvania National Guard battalion.
Local labor action and civil unrest with municipal authority challenged
State and federal military control restored; labor movement defeated locally