Great Southwest railroad strike of 1886

Great Southwest strike of 1886
U.S. Marshalls attempt. to start a train during the strike in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Date	March 1 – May 4, 1886
Location	Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Texas
Methods	Strike, protest, sabotage
Parties
Knights of Labor (KOL) Railroad workers Union Pacific Railroad Missouri Pacific Railroad Pinkerton Agency Strikebreakers
Lead figures
Martin Irons (KOL leader of DA #101) Jay Gould (Railroad owner)
Number
200,000
Casualties and losses
Deaths: 7 Deaths: 2
States mobilized: Missouri National Guard, Texas Volunteer Guard, Texas Rangers

The Great Southwest railroad strike of 1886 was a labor union strike involving more than 200,000 workers. Beginning on March 1, 1886, railroad workers in five states struck against the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads, owned by Jay Gould. At least ten people were killed. The unravelling of the strike within two months led directly to the collapse of the Knights of Labor and the formation of the American Federation of Labor.