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How Did Pullman Experiment Fail To Create A Perfect Society

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Daman Singh Mr. Davis US History Period 3 January 16th, 2017 Pullman Strike of 1894 The Pullman experiment was led by George M. Pullman, a railroad car manufacturer, where he hoped to turn a failing society into a perfect one. Pullman’s goal was to introduce skilled workers to contribute to building this “perfect” society. However, Pullman’s experiment was disastrous as he failed to meet the needs of his workers, causing a boycott and huge amounts of violence. (Background Essay). The Pullman experiment was not successful as it led to a huge worker’s strike, unfair treatment of laborers, and violence. The town of Pullman was a failure even before the labor conflict due to the economic concerns for the laborers as they earned low wages. Pullman’s goal was to create a perfect society and improve working conditions of laborers. “The people of Pullman are not happy…. They say that all this perfection of order costs them too much money and… they want to run the municipal government themselves, according to the ordinary American fashion. They secretly rebel because the Pullman Co. continues its watch and authority over them after working hours.” (Document 6). In response to the worker’s input towards the Pullman experiment, the American Railway Union (ARU) …show more content…

Many employees of the Pullman Co. argued that they were getting released from their positions because they joined the ARU. “Mr. Pullman had given out that he had taken contracts for new work at a loss, because out of love for his employees he desired to keep his shops open…. The men… thought that perhaps he was keeping the shops open, and taking work at a loss in order to get his returns in rent…” (Document 10). This demonstrates that Pullman kept the wages for his employees low as he wanted them to pay off their rents they owed to him and release the workers that went against him by joining the

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