General Strikes in US History

General strikes have been a rare occurrence but a very powerful example of the way that organized workers and communities can transform society. The two most important general strikes in US history were the one in 1877 and the one in 1919 in Seattle. Author Robert Ovets argues that the often violent general strikes of the late 1800s and early 1900s showcased the ability of working people to not only confront the state and capitalism but also organize society on their own terms.