Which 1877 strike became the first nationwide labor stoppage in U.S. history?

The 1877 strike widely regarded as the first nationwide labor stoppage in United States history was the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

The strike began in Martinsburg, West Virginia, after the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad announced another wage reduction during a period of economic depression. Railroad workers stopped trains, and the action spread to other lines and cities, including Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis.

State militias and federal troops were deployed in several locations. Violence and property destruction occurred, and the strike ended after roughly forty-five days. The event exposed the tension between powerful railroad corporations and workers facing wage cuts and insecure employment.

It is distinct from the 1894 Pullman Strike, which also involved federal intervention, and the 1892 Homestead Strike, which centered on a Pennsylvania steel mill. The 1877 action was broader and affected railroads across the country.