Final answer:
Pinkerton's code of conduct is important as it enabled their involvement in the Homestead Strike, marking a significant incident in U.S. labor history. Their actions reflected the aggressive tactics used by some employers to combat unionization and set a precedent for labor conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of Pinkerton's code of conduct is pivotal to understanding the events that transpired at the Homestead factory of the Carnegie Steel Company. In 1892, Henry C. Frick, an anti-unionist, ordered a lockout of workers and brought in three hundred Pinkerton detectives to maintain order and protect property. This decision led to a violent confrontation with union workers, resulting in casualties on both sides and significantly escalating the Homestead Strike, which ultimately concluded with the defeat of the union.
Furthermore, the use of Pinkerton agents in such workplace conflicts highlighted the lengths to which companies would go to assert control and resist labor organizing, which had a long-lasting impact on labor relations in the United States. The code of conduct upheld by Pinkerton's at the time allowed for such paramilitary actions against workers, reflecting the era's industrial relations climate.