Graphic Organizer:

Question

Complete the cause-and-effect chart.

The Haymarket Riot occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886, when police broke up a workers' demonstration organized by alleged anarchists. On May 3 laborers had battled police at the McCormick Reaper plant, which had hired nonunion workers during a strike called to obtain an 8-hour working day. One person was killed, and the organizers accused the police of brutality, calling a protest rally at Haymarket Square the next day. When police tried to disperse the crowd, a bomb exploded in police ranks and rioting erupted. Eleven people were killed. The bomber was never identified, but eight anarchist leaders were convicted as accessories to murder. Four were hanged, one committed suicide, and three were jailed. In 1893, Gov. John Peter Altgeld of Illinois pardoned the three survivors, citing an unfair trial.

Chicago, ILL, May 4. —Great were the expectations of the socialistic leaders of running the meeting they had called for to-night. As early as 7:30 o’clock had been mentioned for the speaking, when the excitement would begin. The place chosen was the old hay market on Randolph street, capable of holding from 15,000 to 20,000 men. . . . The scene around the market about 8 p.m. showed that the scattered group of men loitering in the vicinity would make a crowd numbering not to exceed 1500. A man who was standing in the crowd received a pistol ball in the thigh and has just been brought to the Central police station. He said that during the progress of the socialistic meeting a squad of officers marched by close to the speakers’ stand. Some one shouted, “kill the d—ds.” Almost as soon as the words had been uttered three bombs were thrown from near the stand into the midst of the squad of officers. They exploded instantly and five policemen fell. Others were wounded, and several of the socialists did not escape. . . . Later—more coherent accounts are coming in and they point to a much more disastrous affray than was at first reported. . . . At the time of the throwing of the bombs the crowd had dwindled down to less than a thousand. The utterances of the speakers were still of a most inflammatory character, however, and the hearers who still remained grew riotous in demeanor. The police concluded to put an end to the disturbance, and advancing, ordered the crowd to disperse. At first the socialists fell back slowly, one of the speakers still urging them to stand firm. Suddenly the bombs were thrown. The police retorted instantly with a volley from their revolvers. The rioters answered with theirs, which shots showed they were provided with pistols. The mob appeared crazed with a frantic desire for blood, and hold ing its ground, poured volley after volley into the midst of the officers. The latter fought gallantly and at last dispersed the mob and cleared the marketplace. —Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Wednesday, May 5, 1886

Answer 1

Cause-and-Effect Chart: The Haymarket Riot

| Causes | Effects | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Laborers at the McCormick Reaper plant went on strike for an 8-hour workday. | The Haymarket Riot occurred as a result of rising tensions between laborers and police. | | Nonunion workers were hired during the strike. | One person was killed in a preceding conflict on May 3, escalating anger and discontent among strikers. | | Organizers accused police of brutality following the May 3 confrontation. | A protest rally was organized at Haymarket Square to address grievances against the police. | | A bomb was thrown during the protest rally when police attempted to disperse the crowd. | Rioting erupted, resulting in 11 deaths, with both police and socialists suffering casualties. | | Anarchist leaders were blamed for the violence and bombings. | Eight anarchist leaders were convicted as accessories to murder, with four hanged and others imprisoned. | | The call for the meeting was heavily publicized by socialist leaders, raising public tensions. | Governor John Peter Altgeld pardoned the three surviving anarchists in 1893, criticizing the trial's fairness. | | The inflammatory speeches at the rally incited violence and resistance from the crowd. | The event led to a significant public reaction against labor movements and increased repression of anarchism. |

This cause-and-effect chart outlines the series of events and the resulting consequences surrounding the Haymarket Riot.