Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Practice Exam

The event that led to Eugene V. Debs being imprisoned was closely tied to his call for a general strike, particularly in the context of the Pullman Strike in 1894. Debs was a key figure in the American Railway Union and played a significant role in organizing the strike against the Pullman Company over unfair wages and poor working conditions. When the strike escalated and disrupted rail traffic across the country, the federal government intervened, ultimately leading to violent clashes. Debs was arrested for defying a court injunction that prohibited the strike, as well as for his broader actions associated with the labor movement during this tumultuous period. His call for a general strike reflected his commitment to labor rights and social justice, but it also brought about legal ramifications that culminated in his imprisonment. This moment in history significantly shaped his identity as a labor leader and a political activist in the Socialist movement, illustrating his willingness to advocate for the working class, even at great personal cost.