Haymarket+Riot+of+1886

By: Caroline King and Emily O'Sullivan
 * The Haymarket Riot**

The Haymarket Riot of 1886 was the event in history that made the growing labor movements appear to be breeding grounds for political discord and controversy rather than an innocent organization for the betterment of workers conditions for employees as well as their families.

The Haymarket Riot began as a strike organized by workers in support of an eight hour work day. Most workers were socialists who believed that they should have a say in the amount of hours in a work day and the extent to which their work requirements and expectations went to. The union leaders of the workers labor strikes began the After the mayor arrived, government intervention ensued as police attempted to enforce their power and stop the riot, however they were unsuccessful. As the riot was ending, a bomb went off followed by responsive gunfire which killed seven police officers and injured 70 others.
 * Strike**

As the mayor attended the police showed up and as one of their own was killed, they were out for vengeance. The eventually indicted anarchists August Spies, Albert R. Parsons, Louis Lingg, Michael Schwab, Samuel Fielden, George Engle, Adolph Fischer, and Oscar Neebe for the murder of Mathias Degan. As it was unknown who exactly threw the bomb, they were indicted for the printing of seditious materials that were alleged to have advised the killing of police officers and **Pinkertons**, a private enforcement agency renowned for their ability to break up strikes. This then lead to their being held responsible for the murder of Mathias Degan. The government prosecuted, and all the defendants were sentenced to death barring Neebe who was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
 * Public Reaction**

The Haymarket Riot sparked the beginning of May Day, an annual observance of workers' rights, however the riot also seriously damaged the image of the growing labor movement. The movement, which had originally been with an air of acceptance now was met with contempt and fear because it was believed they were violent and volatile. After the trial, which was highly publicized, public favor was heavily on the government for their prosecution and the public became even more excited by the subsequent hangings.
 * Impact**

Following the trial, the case was carried all the way up to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately Ling committed suicide before this. Fielden and Schwab were then sentenced to prison for life, while unfortunately Parsons, Fischer, Engle and Spies were hanged. John Peter Altgeld, an Illinois governor, was sympathetic to the laborers cause and saw the absolute corrupt judge and trial. He therefore fully pardoned Samuel Fielden, Oscar Neebe and Michael Schwab.
 * Continuum**

"Chicago Labor's Past." Illinois Labor History Society, 2010. Web. 11 May 2011. http://www.illinoislaborhistory.org/haymarket.html
 * Bibliography**

"Chicago Anarchists on Trial." American Memory, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/haymarket/haymarket.html

"Haymarket Square riot." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/252759?terms=haymarket

"John Peter Altgeld: Pardon of the Haymarket anarchists (1893)." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/253886?terms=haymarket

"Haymarket Square riot." Image. North Wind Picture Archives. //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/290191?terms=haymarket
 * Pictures**

"Haymarket Square riot." Image. Library of Congress. //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011 http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/290694?terms=haymarket

"U.S. Supreme Court building." Image. Franz Jantzen/Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States. //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/293316?terms=supreme+court

"John Peter Altgeld." Image. Library of Congress. //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011. http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/270945?terms=haymarket