Final answer:
When the striking workers at the Homestead factory saw the Pinkertons, violence and conflict were expected. This event was part of a larger pattern of labor unrest and strikes during the period, where clashed between workers seeking union representation and companies led to fatalities and widespread public disapproval of the unions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expectation for what would happen when the striking workers saw the Pinkertons at the Homestead factory was likely one of violence and confrontation. Historically, the Pinkertons were hired by Henry C. Frick, the manager of the Carnegie Steel Company, to protect company property and crush the labor movement, particularly the union represented by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers.
The broader context of labor unrest during this period shows a pattern of antagonism between workers seeking to organize and protect their wages and working conditions and companies looking to minimize costs and break strikes. Public opinion was often swayed against the strikers due to the violence and the use of harsh methods by the government and companies to suppress strikes.
Worker organization and efforts to unionize faced significant challenges during this time. Repeated violent strikes such as the Homestead Strike and the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 contributed to a public perception that equated labor unrest with anarchist and violent tendencies. This perception further complicated the ability of unions to effectively advocate for worker rights and benefits.