Analyze primary and secondary sources about the Haymarket Affair and the Homestead and Pullman strikes.

Question

Write a letter explaining participation in the Haymarket Affair, why you went to one of the protests, what you saw and what was the result.

Answer 1

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to share with you my experience of participating in the Haymarket Affair, one of the most pivotal events in the history of labor movements. As you know, this incident occurred on May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square in Chicago. To provide you with a detailed description of my involvement, I will draw upon a combination of primary and secondary sources.

My decision to join the protest at Haymarket Square was driven by the increasing discontent among workers due to poor working conditions, extremely long hours, and inadequate wages. The primary source I came across was a pamphlet titled "Anarchism and the Haymarket Martyrs" written by George Engel, one of the defendants in the ensuing trial. In this pamphlet, Engel powerfully expressed the desperation felt by the workers, urging them to take action against the exploitative capitalist system.

Arriving at the demonstration, I was struck by the sheer number of workers from various industries united in their demand for an eight-hour workday. It was inspiring to witness the solidarity and passion emanating from the crowd. A secondary source, a newspaper article published by The Chicago Tribune on May 5, 1886, provided a vivid account of the events. The article mentioned that the atmosphere was initially peaceful, with several speakers delivering speeches advocating for workers' rights.

However, chaos erupted when the police intervened to disperse the gathering. The primary source I discovered, an eyewitness account by Rudolph Schnaubelt published in The Alarm newspaper, narrated the moment when a bomb was thrown towards the police line. The explosion resulted in chaos and violence, leading to the injury and death of both policemen and protesters.

The immediate consequence of the Haymarket Affair was the arrest and subsequent trial of eight labor activists, known as the Haymarket Martyrs. A primary source I found was the famous speech by August Spies, one of the condemned men, in court during the trial. In his speech, Spies proclaimed his innocence and defended the right of workers to stand up for their rights.

Regrettably, the trial was heavily biased against the defendants, as revealed in a secondary source I came across, a book titled "The Haymarket Tragedy" by Paul Avrich. All eight men were found guilty, and four of them were executed by hanging. This outcome deeply saddened and outraged me, as it showcased the blatant disregard for justice and the suppression of workers' rights.

In conclusion, my participation in the Haymarket Affair was motivated by the dire circumstances faced by workers and their determination to demand better working conditions. Although the peaceful protest turned violent, my personal experience aligned with the accounts presented in primary and secondary sources. Witnessing the events and their aftermath only reinforced my commitment to fighting for social and economic justice.

I hope that this letter provides you with a comprehensive understanding of my involvement in the Haymarket Affair, the circumstances that led to it, and the impactful results that followed. Let us continue striving for a society that respects and protects the rights of workers.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]