The Haymarket Riot

Haymarket Riot Early in 1886 labor unions were beginning a movement for an eight-hour day. Serious trouble was anticipated and on May 1 many workers struck for shorter hours. An active group of radicals and anarchists became The involved in the campaign. Two days later shooting and one death occurred during a riot at the McCormick Harvester plant in Chicago when police tangled with the rioters. On May 4 events reached a tragic climax at Haymarket Square where …

…was moved to the courtyard of the Police Academy at 1300 W. Jackson Blvd. The Haymarket riot was one of the four major reactions caused by the labor unions at this time in U.S. History. The other three were The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 (East and Midwest), The Homestead Strike of 1892 (Southern Pennsylvania), and The Pullman Strike of 1894 (Chicago and nationwide). Fortunately, the workers and bosses compromised and peace was reinstituted on the labor front.