With over a quarter of a million miles of railroad tracks laid by 1916, the railroad industry employed roughly 4% of America’s labor force. Although this industry may have rapidly grown in the years following the Civil War, it faced internal displeasure with workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Following the economic crisis in 1873, major railroad companies struggled to bounce back and by 1877, they began to cut wages. These pay reductions deeply angered rail workers and prompted strikes and violence. In Baltimore and West Virginia, some workers blockaded freight trains to show their anger, while others simply walked out. Despite workers’ actions, several rail companies continued to increase strain and pressure on their
