Question

The image shows of the Great Railway Strike of 1877.

An illustration showing American troops marching down a city street, firing into a crowd of civilians. Several civilians have been shot, and some of those have fallen down on the pavement.

What does the activity in the picture reveal about the attitude of railroad owners of the time?

They were willing to bargain collectively with the railway unions.
They usually settled strikes in the late 1800s peacefully.
They were willing to call out troops to force the striking workers back to work.
They were worried that the public might oppose their methods.

Answer 1

The activity in the picture reveals that the railroad owners of the time were willing to call out troops to force the striking workers back to work.

The image described depicts American troops marching down a city street and firing into a crowd of civilians during the Great Railway Strike of 1877. This strike was a significant labor uprising by railroad workers in the United States, sparked by wage cuts and poor working conditions.

The fact that the railroad owners called out troops and resorted to violence against the striking workers suggests that they were not willing to negotiate or bargain collectively with the railway unions. Instead, they chose to use force to suppress the strike and ensure that the workers returned to work under their terms.

This action indicates a lack of willingness on the part of the railroad owners to address the grievances of the workers or engage in peaceful settlement of strikes. They prioritized their own interests and maintaining control over the workforce, even at the expense of public safety and potential opposition from the public.

Therefore, the statement "They were willing to call out troops to force the striking workers back to work" best describes the attitude of the railroad owners of the time, as revealed by the activity in the picture.