Chicago in the late 19th century was a city of immense growth, stark inequality, and constant tension between workers and employers. As industry boomed, so did labor unrest. Few cities in the United States saw as many strikes, protests, and violent confrontations between workers and police as Chicago. Between the 1870s and 1900, the Chicago Police Department became a symbol of the state’s authority and the enforcer of business interests, often clashing with immigrant and working-class communities.
Industrial Growth and Worker Struggles
By the 1870s, Chicago had transformed into an industrial powerhouse. Factories, railroads, and stockyards employed tens of thousands of workers, many of them recent immigrants from Europe.
But working conditions were harsh:
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Long hours (10–12 hours per day, six days a week).
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Low wages that barely covered rent and food.
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Dangerous workplaces, with frequent accidents and little compensation.
These conditions fueled the rise of labor movements, unions, and political groups demanding shorter hours, safer workplaces, and better pay.
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The first nationwide strike in American history reached Chicago in July 1877, after railroad companies cut wages for the third time in a year.
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Striking workers stopped trains, blocked tracks, and rallied for support.
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Crowds grew into the tens of thousands, including unemployed workers and sympathizers.
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Police and militia were sent to break up protests.
On July 25, 1877, violence erupted:
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Police opened fire on protesters near the Halsted Street viaduct.
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At least 30 workers were killed and over 100 injured.
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The strike collapsed under brutal repression.
For many Chicagoans, the event marked the first time the police were seen as enforcers for corporations rather than protectors of the public.
The Rise of Socialism and Anarchism
In the aftermath of 1877, radical political movements gained strength in Chicago.
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Socialist and anarchist groups held rallies in immigrant neighborhoods.
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German and Bohemian immigrants were especially active in labor politics.
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Newspapers in multiple languages spread ideas about worker solidarity.
Chicago became a hub for the eight-hour workday movement, which demanded a limit to working hours without loss of pay. Police, however, viewed these groups as dangerous radicals threatening social order.
The Haymarket Affair (1886)
The most infamous labor conflict in Chicago—and perhaps in U.S. history—was the Haymarket Affair.
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On May 1, 1886, workers across Chicago struck for the eight-hour day.
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On May 3, police fired on striking workers at the McCormick Reaper Works, killing several.
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In response, labor activists called a protest meeting at Haymarket Square on May 4.
The rally began peacefully, but as police moved in to disperse the crowd, a bomb exploded.
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7 police officers were killed, along with at least 4 civilians.
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Police fired into the crowd, killing and wounding dozens more.
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The bomber was never identified.
In the aftermath, eight anarchists were arrested and charged with conspiracy. Despite little evidence, four were executed, one committed suicide in jail, and the others received long prison terms.
The Haymarket Affair became a defining moment in labor history. To workers, it symbolized state violence against labor. To police and business leaders, it represented the threat of anarchism and radical politics.
Policing Strikes and Protests
Between 1886 and 1900, Chicago police frequently clashed with striking workers.
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Streetcar strikes (1888, 1897) turned violent when police protected strikebreakers.
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Pullman Strike (1894): Though federal troops played the main role, Chicago police also fought strikers in South Side neighborhoods.
Each confrontation reinforced the perception of police as siding with employers.
The Pullman Strike of 1894
Perhaps second only to Haymarket in significance, the Pullman Strike shook Chicago in 1894.
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Workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company struck after wage cuts without rent reductions in company-owned housing.
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The strike spread nationwide after the American Railway Union joined in, led by Eugene V. Debs.
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Rail traffic across Chicago—and much of the nation—was paralyzed.
The federal government intervened:
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President Grover Cleveland sent in federal troops to Chicago.
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Police joined federal forces in trying to keep trains moving.
Violence followed:
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Rioting and clashes left at least 30 workers dead.
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Millions of dollars in property damage occurred.
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Debs was jailed, and the strike collapsed.
The Pullman Strike cemented the image of Chicago as the epicenter of labor conflict and violent repression.
Police Tactics and Public Opinion
Chicago police developed a reputation for heavy-handed tactics:
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Using clubs, revolvers, and shotguns to break up protests.
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Beating and arresting strike leaders.
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Maintaining strong surveillance on radical groups.
For much of the public—particularly the city’s business elite—this was acceptable and even necessary. But for immigrant communities and labor activists, it represented state violence and class warfare.
Corruption and Political Control
During this era, the Chicago Police Department was also deeply corrupt.
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Officers were hired through political patronage, not qualifications.
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Captains and sergeants were expected to deliver votes for their political bosses.
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Vice districts paid bribes to police for protection.
This corruption meant that police often seemed more interested in serving politicians and businessmen than in providing fair law enforcement.
The End of the Century
By 1900, Chicago police had established a reputation for:
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Violence against labor movements.
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Partisan politics and corruption.
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Serving the interests of the city’s business elite.
Yet, they had also grown into one of the most powerful municipal police forces in the United States, with thousands of officers and increasingly modern equipment.
This era laid the foundation for future struggles between workers, communities, and law enforcement in the 20th century.
