A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What event is described as a pitched battle between strikers and strike breakers in 1886?

1. Haymarket bomb outrage

2. Pullman strike

3. Homestead strike

4. Boston police strike

The correct answer is: Haymarket bomb outrage

The event described as a pitched battle between strikers and strike breakers in 1886 refers to the Haymarket bomb outrage. This incident took place in Haymarket Square in Chicago during a labor rally on May 4, 1886, which was organized to advocate for an eight-hour workday. The situation escalated when someone threw a bomb at the police, resulting in a violent confrontation between the strikers and law enforcement. This incident became emblematic of the tensions between labor movements and authorities during this period of rapid industrialization and labor unrest in the United States. The significance of the Haymarket event lies in how it influenced labor movements and public perceptions of strikes and anarchism, with long-lasting consequences for labor rights in America. The other events mentioned occurred in different contexts or times, such as the Pullman strike which had its own unique circumstances related to railroads and conditions for workers, the Homestead strike which was linked to steelworkers and occurred later in 1892, and the Boston police strike, which involved police officers and was primarily about labor conditions as well but happened in 1919. Each of these events contributed to the broader labor movement but was distinct in its nature and outcome.