Which 1894 labor strike led to a nationwide shutdown and federal intervention?

• A. Haymarket Affair
• B. Homestead Strike
• C. Ludlow Massacre
• D. Pullman Strike

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how the federal government began actively intervening in large-scale labor conflicts when they threatened interstate commerce and national functioning. The Pullman Strike of 1894, led by Eugene Debs and the American Railway Union, organized a nationwide boycott and work stoppage against the Pullman Palace Car Company. The strike disrupted rail service across the country and even affected mail delivery, bringing interstate commerce to a near-standstill. In response, the federal government stepped in with a court injunction to restrain the unions and then deployed federal troops to break the strike and restore order. This combination of legal action and military force marked a turning point in how labor disputes were handled at the national level. The other events listed occurred at different times and did not produce the same nationwide shutdown accompanied by direct federal intervention in 1894.