The Haymarket Riot (also known as the “Haymarket Incident” and “Haymarket Affair”) occurred on May 4, 1886, when a labor protest rally near Chicago’s Haymarket Square turned into a riot after someone threw a bomb at police. At least eight people died as a result of the violence that day. Despite a lack of evidence against them, eight radical labor activists were convicted in connection with the bombing. The Haymarket Riot was viewed as a setback for the organized labor movement in America, which was fighting for rights like the eight-hour workday. At the same time, many in the labor movement viewed the convicted men as martyrs. Watch the clip and refer to “The Haymarket Affair” subsection of Ch 16 for more information. There is also a longer clip in the Ch 16 content pages.
- How did the outcome of the case reflect the relationship between industry and the courts at the time? Can you link to the events of jurisprudence now in our contemporary world (meaning what events in other parts of US history reflect this, use examples)?
- What occurred in this event would later be described as “redbaiting”. How did this present an opportunity for industry leadership to remove political competition and what other periods of US history did this political tactic prevail?
- These issues still exist today. What are some ways you would suggest of easing the conflict between capital and labor? Do you have any parallel person experience of this conflict in the workplace? If so what?