Final answer:
The 1894 Pullman Strike led by Eugene V. Deb resulted in the use of federal troops to break the strike, leading to weakened union power, the arrest of Debs, and public opinion turning against labor unions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pullman Strike of 1894 had a profound and lasting impact on labor relations in the United States. The strike began when George Pullman reduced the wages of his workers, leading to a nationwide railroad strike under the leadership of Eugene V. Debs and the American Railway Union (ARU).
President Grover Cleveland intervened, using federal troops to break the strike by attaching mail cars to the trains and arresting Debs for interfering with the delivery of U.S. mail. This controversial use of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act against labor unions significantly weakened the power of unions, especially the ARU, fostering a sentiment among many that the union had become too powerful and disruptive.
The strike was forcibly ended, leaving workers disempowered and with no labor gains, while public opinion turned against the striking laborers, with many considering their methods too violent.
The Pullman Strike also influenced future government interventions in labor disputes, setting a precedent for the federal government's role in strikes, such as the later intervention by President Theodore Roosevelt in the 1902 coal miners' strike. Labor unions began to realize the need for better organization and protection, leading to a continued struggle for workers' rights following the strike.