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Industrialization
Economic Growth
Social Change
Racial Divide
The first residents settled in Pullman Village in 1881. George M. Pullman built his new factory for his Pullman Palace Cars and desired a settled workforce that not be inclined to participate in any action against his company like the turbulent 1877 Railroad Strike. Solon Beman was hired as the architect and he along with landscape architect Nathan Barrett erected a town that would provide decent housing in a socially and physically healthy environment that would also generate a 6 percent profit for the Pullman Palace Car Company. State labor commissioners visited in 1884 and declared it a successful venture that especially protected women and children from the harshest aspects of industrial America.
The Pullman image of being an enlightened employer who considered his employees’ best interests was greatly damaged by the Haymarket Riot of 1886 and the Pullman strike of 1894. The Pullman strike highlighted Pullman’s antilabor position.
The explosive growth of Chicago during industrialization shaped its metropolitan development. The many factories took advantage of the many transportation lines and drew great waves of newcomers. European immigrants and African American migrants were drawn to Chicago and contributed to an ethnic and racial diversity that grew along with its expansion.
Pullman workers lived in brick houses, their families had access to schools, parks, a library, a theater, educational programs and many other activities set up by the town. Pullman hoped his model community would build business virtues of dedication, neatness, promptness, and sobriety. His goal was employee loyalty, a low labor turnover rate, and general labor tranquility. His model community of “clean living” would boost company profits. This vision was dashed by the 1894 Pullman strike and walkout.
African Americans, who worked as porters and maids and were supplemented with tips, made better pay than many opportunities open to them, however less than the jobs that were denied to them because of race.
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