Why did the Pullman strike of 1894 happen?

The Pullman Strike of 1894 occurred due to a combination of wage cuts and high rents in the company-owned town of Pullman, Illinois, where workers faced economic hardship. When the Pullman Company reduced wages without lowering rents, workers, represented by the American Railway Union led by Eugene V. Debs, went on strike. The strike escalated into a nationwide railroad boycott, disrupting rail traffic and mail delivery. The federal government intervened by sending troops to break the strike, leading to violent clashes and highlighting the tensions between labor and management during this period.