Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency's workforce size compared to the US standing army?
What was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency's workforce size compared to the US standing army?
- It was unknown due to lack of records
- It was smaller than the US standing army
- It employed more agents than the US standing army (correct)
- It was equal in size to the US standing army
Why did businessmen hire Pinkerton agents during labor unrest in the late 19th century?
Why did businessmen hire Pinkerton agents during labor unrest in the late 19th century?
- To provide medical assistance to strikers
- To infiltrate unions and guard factories (correct)
- To mediate disputes between workers and management
- To negotiate with union leaders
What was the outcome of the confrontation between Pinkerton agents and striking workers during the Homestead Strike of 1892?
What was the outcome of the confrontation between Pinkerton agents and striking workers during the Homestead Strike of 1892?
- The government intervened to stop the conflict
- The strike was resolved peacefully
- Several deaths occurred on both sides (correct)
- The Pinkerton agents were forced to retreat
In which industries did Pinkerton agents serve as guards during labor disputes?
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 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?
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?
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 the main investigative body for the federal government after the civil war?
What was a characteristic of policing before the civil war?
What was a characteristic of policing before the civil war?
Who founded the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850?
Who founded the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850?
What was the role of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency?
What was the role of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency?
What was the characteristic of policing in the American Old West?
What was the characteristic of policing in the American Old West?
When was the first city police service established in Boston?
When was the first city police service established in Boston?
What was the significance of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency at its height?
What was the significance of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency at its height?
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Study Notes
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.
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