164 Reform and Revitalization: The Military and Civil Disorder, Part I

America at War

We are back! Our series on the reform and revitalization of the American military continues with a focus on how the military responded to civil disorder. The rise of the factory system and the industrialization of the United States changed the economic landscape of the nation. Wage earners, feeling powerless at time of rampant profits as well as little in the way of protections during economic downturns, used collective action to put a stop to these abuses. Often, these labor stoppages would involve property destruction and violence. In response, both the National Guard and regular army troops would intervene. The great railroad strike of 1877 was the first instance in the post Civil War era that this occurred, informing how the military would respond to unrest for the rest of the century. Enjoy!

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