The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railroad strike in the United States that began in May 1894. It started at the Pullman Company, which manufactured railroad cars, when workers protested against wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing. The strike quickly spread to other railroads, disrupting rail traffic and mail delivery across the country. In response, the federal government intervened, citing the disruption of mail delivery as a reason to break the strike. President Grover Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago, leading to violent clashes. The strike ended in July 1894, highlighting tensions between labor and management during the industrial era.