The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 started on July, 17 1877, in West Virginia. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company's workers went on strike. They were very unhappy because their wages were reduced twice in previous year. Untill the recently cut paycheck was returned the workers wouldn't let the railroads run. The governor of West Virginia called the states militia, but the militia understood why the workers were on strike and refused to interfere with the strike. Because of this federal government assistance was requested.Strikes like this were starting in other states such as, Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. Violence was a major problem while trying to stop the strikes. The strikes also affected Ohio. The governor of Ohio wanted Ohioans to put together private police forces to help business against strikers. In Columbus people destroyed railroad property. In Newark, which was a major stop for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, there was the worst problems. Workers on strike blockaded the railroads and wouldn't let any trains through.
The strike had ended by the end of August of 1877. It ended mostly due to militias and federal government interferance.
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