Question

Were the executions of Spies, Parsons, Fischer, and Engel a tactic on the part of business and government to damage the effectiveness of the labor movement

Answer 1

The Haymarket incident, Haymarket massacre or Haymarket revolt was a historical event that took place in Haymarket Square (Chicago, United States) on May 4, 1886 and that was the high point of a series of protests that from the 1st of May had occurred in support of the striking workers, to claim the 8-hour workday. During a peaceful demonstration an unknown person threw a bomb at the police trying to dissolve the act violently. This led to a trial, years later described as illegitimate and deliberately malicious, towards eight anarcho-communist and anarcho-communist workers, where five of them were sentenced to death (one of them committed suicide before being executed) and three were detained. They were called Martyrs of Chicago by the workers movement.

On June 21, 1886, the case against 31 officials began, and the number was reduced to eight. Although the trial was at all times a farce and was held without respecting any procedural rule, the yellow press held the guilt of all the accused and the need to hang foreigners. Although nothing could be proved against him, the eight of Chicago were found guilty, accused of being enemies of society and the established order. Three of them were sentenced to prison and five to the gallows.

Therefore we can say that the trial and sentencing had as its primary objective, to finish or disarm the nascent labor movement.

Answer 2

Answer:

Four of the Anarchists accused of engaging in the Hay-market riot in Chicago on May 4, 1884, in which seven policemen were killed, were hanged in that town's jail on November 11. The four were Parsons, Engel, Spies, and Fischer.

It may be implied their execution was indeed a strategy on the part of the government to break the momentum being generated by the activities of the Labor Movement.

As tens of thousands poured into the streets on May 1, the Chicago Mail ominously said of high profile radicals Albert Parsons and August Spies, "Mark them for today. Keep them accountable for any trouble that arises.

The demonstrations were only a support of the eight-hour day.

Cheers!