What major strike involved railroad workers protesting wage cuts in 1877?

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a significant labor uprising sparked by widespread discontent among railroad workers facing wage cuts. In response to the economic downturn and the ensuing reductions in pay, workers across the nation, particularly on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, began to protest, refusing to work and leading to violent clashes. This strike marked one of the first instances of organized labor resistance against corporate power, as it spread to multiple states and even resulted in disruptions to rail traffic and violence in several cities.

The outcomes of the strike highlighted the struggles between labor and management during the Gilded Age and served as an early catalyst for labor movements. It was an important historical moment that laid the groundwork for future labor rights discussions and actions in the United States, distinguishing it clearly from the other events listed. The Haymarket Affair and the Pullman Strike, while also crucial labor events, occurred later and had different contexts and underlying issues, making them distinct from the Great Railroad Strike. Similarly, the Knights of Labor was an organization that aimed to unite all workers but was not a specific strike event.