CLEP US History II Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep

Eugene V. Debs was the key figure who led the railroad workers during the Pullman Strike in 1894. His involvement in the labor movement was significant; he was initially a labor union leader and eventually became a prominent socialist figure. The Pullman Strike began when workers at the Pullman Company went on strike due to wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing. Debs, as the leader of the American Railway Union (ARU), supported the strike and called for a boycott of trains carrying Pullman cars, which brought rail traffic to a standstill across the nation.

Debs's leadership during this period illustrated his commitment to workers' rights and social justice, and the strike became a pivotal moment in the labor movement, raising awareness regarding workers' conditions and the power of collective action. His actions during the strike ultimately led to his arrest and imprisonment, further solidifying his role as a key figure in advocating for labor rights in the United States.