US Police History

What was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency's workforce size compared to the US standing army?

Why did businessmen hire Pinkerton agents during labor unrest in the late 19th century?

What was the outcome of the confrontation between Pinkerton agents and striking workers during the Homestead Strike of 1892?

In which industries did Pinkerton agents serve as guards during labor disputes?

What is the current name of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency's division that provides government services?

What pejorative term was used to refer to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency by its opponents?

In what year was the New York City Sheriff's Office founded?

What was the main investigative body for the federal government after the civil war?

What was a characteristic of policing before the civil war?

Who founded the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850?

What was the role of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency?

What was the characteristic of policing in the American Old West?

When was the first city police service established in Boston?

What was the significance of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency at its height?

Early Policing in the USA

Policing in the colonial period was provided by elected sheriffs and local militias.
The New York City Sheriff's Office was founded in 1626, marking the beginning of the history of US police.

Development of Federal Services

The US Marshals Service was established in 1789.
The US Parks Police and US Mint Police were founded in 1791.

City Police Services

The first city police services were established in Boston in 1838, New York in 1844, and Philadelphia in 1854.

Federal Investigative Body

The US Secret Service was founded in 1865 and was the main investigative body for the federal government for some time.

Post-Civil War Policing

Policing became more para-military in character after the Civil War, with the increased use of uniforms and military ranks.
Prior to this, sheriff's offices had been non-uniformed organizations without a para-military hierarchy.

Policing in the American Old West

Policing in the American Old West was often of poor quality.
The Army and poorly resourced sheriffs often provided policing, supplemented by private contractors like the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency

The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was established by Allan Pinkerton in 1850.
Pinkerton became famous for foiling a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln.
At its height, the Pinkerton Agency employed more agents than the standing army of the United States.
The agency performed services ranging from security guarding to private military contracting work.

Labor Unrest and the Pinkertons

During the late 19th century, businessmen hired Pinkerton agents to infiltrate unions and as guards to keep strikers out of factories.
The most notable confrontation was the Homestead Strike of 1892, which resulted in several deaths on both sides.
The Pinkertons were also used as guards in coal, iron, and lumber disputes in various states, as well as the railroad strikes of 1887.

Learn about the origins of policing in the USA, from the early Sheriff's offices to the establishment of city police services. Explore the history of federal law enforcement agencies.