Were the executions of Spies, Parsons, Fischer, and Engel a tactic on the part of business and government to damage the effectiveness of the labor movement

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History

Julio Deleon

3 September, 15:49

Were the executions of Spies, Parsons, Fischer, and Engel a tactic on the part of business and government to damage the effectiveness of the labor movement

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Leo Mercado · Answer 1

Four of the Anarchists accused of engaging in the Hay-market riot in Chicago on May 4, 1884, in which seven policemen were killed, were hanged in that town's jail on November 11. The four were Parsons, Engel, Spies, and Fischer.

It may be implied their execution was indeed a strategy on the part of the government to break the momentum being generated by the activities of the Labor Movement.

As tens of thousands poured into the streets on May 1, the Chicago Mail ominously said of high profile radicals Albert Parsons and August Spies, "Mark them for today. Keep them accountable for any trouble that arises.

The demonstrations were only a support of the eight-hour day.

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