Tag Archives: St. Louis Commune of 1877

St. Louis Commune of 1877

History

  • Google AI Overview

The St. Louis Commune of 1877 was a brief worker-led uprising, marked by the first general strike in U.S. history and the temporary control of a major American city by socialist and communist organizers. [12]

Key Events of the Uprising

  • The Great Railroad Strike: Grew out of national wage cuts in July 1877, spreading quickly to St. Louis, Missouri, where thousands of multiracial industrial and transport workers shut down local commerce. [12345]
  • Workers’ Leadership: The Marxist Workingmen’s Party helped direct the movement, setting up an executive committee that functioned as a temporary municipal authority. [123]
  • City Control: For about a week, the coalition maintained public order, negotiated work terms, and paralyzed standard capitalist operations before federal troops and local militias suppressed the movement. [123]