Meetings of working men in Chicago on July 26 led to workers from a number of industries striking on the following morning, and over the next few days, large crowds gathered throughout the city, resulting in violent clashes with police.

Violence began in Martinsburg, West Virginia and spread along the rail lines through Baltimore and on to several major cities and transportation hubs of the time, including Reading, Scranton and Shamokin, Pennsylvania; and a bloodless general strike in St. Louis, Missouri.

What began as the peaceful actions of organized labor attracted the masses of working discontent and unemployed of the depression, along with others who took opportunistic advantage of the chaos.

[9][1] By the time unrest reached Chicago, reports had widely circulated of burning, looting, and violence in major cities including Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

[9]: 27 : 310  This served to grow tensions, as newspapers reported the march of unrest westward, but it also afforded officials the opportunity to prepare, a luxury other cities had not enjoyed, as they had been forced to hastily swear in police and muster militia after violence was well underway.

On July 22 they released a statement: In the desperate struggle for existence now being maintained by the workingmen of the great railroads throughout the land, we expect that every member will render all possible moral and substantial assistance to our brethren, and support all reasonable measures which may be found necessary by them.

[1]: 370 They sought two main goals: the nationalization of the rail and telegraph lines by the federal government, and the institution of an eight-hour workday, which they believed would provide room for more of the unemployed to enter the workforce.

[1]: 370 Throughout the day meetings were held by the men of the Michigan Southern, Rock Island, Chicago & North Western, and the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads.

City authorities prepared for potential unrest in earnest, deploying muskets to police stations and equipping a newly created artillery company with three cannons.

[1]: 373 The next morning a committee of workers met with officer of the Michigan Central Railroad, and demanded a restoration of recent wage cuts.

Fearing that some may "seize this as a favorable opportunity to destroy property and commit plunder", he called upon: on all good citizens to aid in enforcing the laws and ordinances, and in suppressing riot and other disordely conduct.

[1]: 382 Additional regulars arrived from the west on Thursday July 26, bringing the total number of federal troops in the city to 12 companies.

[1]: 385–6 Elsewhere at the Halstead Street viaduct, the mob stopped streetcars and threw stones and fired pistols at the group of 25 police who arrived at the scene.

This initially orderly retreat turned into a rout, and they fled as far as Fifteenth Street where they met with a cavalry unit and police reinforcements.

[1]: 390 Additional troops throughout the day arrived and were stationed throughout the city, where they continually dispersed groups, and prevented any large crowds from forming.

[1]: 391 [2] On the morning of Friday July 27, five companies were dispatched to disperse crowds gathered at the corner of Archer Avenue and South Halstead Street, where they were joined by 300 additional cavalry and infantry.