Domestic Disturbances and the National Guard Domestic Disturbances
Domestic Disturbances and the National Guard
Domestic Disturbances Army reduced to 28, 000 after the Civil War Army used to break strikes, enforce local laws, collect revenue, and arrest offenders
Domestic Disturbances 1 st national labor dispute railway strikes Federal troops only used to defend federal property or if requested by a state governor Troops had limited contact with mobs during the strikes Presence alone usually enough to restore order Most occurrences resulted in no casualties
Pullman Railway Strike (1894) Lowered wages and increased rent for Pullman box cars workers in Chicago Boycott organized by the American Railway Union (ARU) Movement of boxcars stopped in Detroit (27 states affected)
Pullman Railway Strike (1894) President Cleveland ordered mail cars to be left alone (strikers refused) Brig. Gen. Nelson Miles commanded thousands to troops to protect mail cars Troops move city to city quelling strikes Rioters fired upon in some instances when troops were threatened (gave warning before firing)
Pullman Railway Strike (1894) Why was the controversial? Troops mismanaged and disorganized Both Miles and the Illinois Governor argued against using federal troops (ignored) Supreme Court ruled that the federal government was justified in its decision
National Guard Movement Volunteer militias used to quell strikes during 1870 s Huge swell in numbers to serve in the state militia Led to improved outfitting of militias
National Guard Movement Why did so many join? Feelings of prestige (somewhat like a social club) Appealed to “manly virtues” (fitness, duty, discipline) High levels of nationalism (continued antimilitarism)
National Guard Movement National Guard Association created between 1881 and 1892 Fought to increase federal funding for the militia training and weapons States renamed their militias “The National Guard” Now our main reserve force behind the Regular Army
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