Andrew Carnegie sets his sights on a struggling steel mill outside Pittsburgh,
with plans to make it the largest in his steelmaking empire.
Carnegie invests millions
retooling the plant
to turn out more structural steel than any other mill of its size.
The Homestead Steel Works is a true modern marvel,
but it can't operate
without manpower.
To keep profits growing, Carnegie needs to continue cutting costs,
including wages,
but he's also determined to repair his image, so he turns to his chairman to do the dirty work.
Henry Frick has never been concerned with what people think of his methods.
He's about one thing:
winning.
The conditions are dangerous,
and the small group of men bands together to raise their concerns.
Unions are relatively new in America, and Frick isn't about to let them take root on his watch.
He ramps up production, pushing his men harder than ever.
In case of a strike, he'll have a stockpile of finished steel.
The men are spending half their lives in the dreadful and dangerous conditions,
and they're about to reach their breaking point.
Accidents on the plant floor keep multiplying. Death has the potential to unite the overwhelmed workforce.
Knowing his boss has his back, Frick throws the first punch.
He tells workers that Carnegie Steel won't negotiate,
and conditions won't be improving.
The Carnegie company has wiped out organization in the Edgar Thompson works,
has wiped organization in the coke region, and are about to wipe an organization in Homestead.
The time has come to send Mr. Frick a message:
we do not accept the new pay scale; we do not accept the poor working conditions;
we do not accept the long hours. And why can we do this? Because we are a union!
And nobody, nobody will break us!
All those in favor of striking, raise your hands!
2000 steelworkers barricade the front of the plant
to prevent Frick from bringing in replacements.
Frick isn't about to back down.
He calls in
reinforcements.
Under pressure to quell the revolt, Frick brings in the Pinkertons, a mercenary army,
capable of outgunning the US military.
Tear down this barricade!
Fire! Fire!
[Gunfire erupts].
When the fighting stops,
nine Carnegie steel workers lie dead,
while countless others
sustained severe injuries.
But they managed to hold their ground
until Pennsylvania's governor sends in the state militia to finally restore order.
Homestead is back in the hands of the management,
but the public is outraged over the violence, blaming Chairman Henry Frick directly.
Many are demanding justice for the dead.
Mr. Frick!
[Gun shot].