Curated OER
History Matters: For the Further Benefit of Our People
After the onset of the 1893 Depression, George Pullman of the Pullman Palace Car Company found his company crumbling as employees "Appealed to the American Railway Union (ARU), which organized a nationwide strike." Read the letter he...
Chicago History Museum
Encyclopedia of Chicago: Welfare Capitalism
An interesting look at how some businesses in Chicago practiced welfare capitalism, a way to give noncash compensation to workers primarily to stave off unionization, but also to promote a loyalty to the company. Many examples are given.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Captains of Industry: Second Industrial Revolution
This tutorial looks at the Second Industrial Revolution in the United States and the most famous and successful industrial entrepreneurs of that time. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: George Pullman: His Impact on Rr Industry, Labor, and American Life in 19th C.
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson plan seeks to discover the impact George Pullman had, not only on the railroad industry, but also on American life, by improving rail travel, and also establishing a company town for his...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Town of Pullman
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes how George Pullman amassed a fortune making specialized rail cars. He then decided to build a town for his labor force, one that was very...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Pullman Boycott
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section provides a good description of the events of 1893-1894, including the reasons for the boycott of Pullman cars, the people involved, and how the...
Vassar College
Vassar College: 1896: The Homestead and Pullman Strikes
1896, A Website of Political Cartoons and Commentary provides the illustrated story of both the Homestead and Pullman strikes with quotes from newspapers of the time and a brief characterization of Andrew Carnegie. The site includes a...
University of California
History Project: The Pullman Strike of 1894
Given background information and primary source documents, students will write an essay describing the events of the Pullman Strike of 1894 organized around a theme.
Other
Pullman Car: George Pullman
A look at George M. Pullman's business career, beginning with his business as building-mover, and continuing with his venture into building luxury rail cars.
Chicago History Museum
Chicago History Museum: George Pullman: Social Reformer
Click through four pages on this larger website about the Pullman Rail Car Company. Read about George Pullman's ideas about establishing a company town for his workers that would address their housing, recreation, and even moral needs.
Other
Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography: George Pullman
This biography of George Pullman outlines his business acumen in the development of the Pullman railroad sleeper car, which offered luxury on long train trips. Read the description of the company town he developed in Illinois to house...
Other
Illinois Labor History Society: The Parable of Pullman
This resource gives an account of the Pullman Strike of 1894. It discusses what the strike was about, how it was resolved, and the effect its outcome had.
Other
The Pullman State Historic Site : George Mortimer Pullman
Here you can find out everything you wanted to know about George Pullman, and even things you didn't know you wanted to know. Find out about his childhood, his family, his business career, and the company town he established.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Labor Battles in the Gilded Age
Discusses the Homestead Strike of 1892 and the Pullman Strike of 1894 and how these ended, as well as responses of the federal government to the labor movement. Includes questions for students at end.
Other
Chicago Tribute: George Pullman (1831 1897)
Read brief facts about the life and career of industrialist, George Pullman.
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Labor in the Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was a period of terrible labor violence, as industrialists and workers fought for control of the workplace. Workers organized the first large American labor unions during the Gilded Age, while employers tried to stop the...