Question: how did the great railroad strike of 1877 demonstrate the power of workers

title: Great Railroad Strike of 1877
text: At the time , the workers were not represented by labor unions . The city and state governments organized armed militias , aided by national guard , federal troops and private militias organized by the railroads , who fought against the workers . Disruption was widespread and at its height , the strikes were supported by about 100,000 workers . With the intervention of federal troops in several locations , most of the strikes were suppressed by early August . Labor continued to work to organize into unions to work for better wages and conditions . Fearing the social disruption , many cities built armories to support their militias ; these defensive buildings still stand as symbols of the effort to suppress the labor unrest of this period . 

Answer: answer: Disruption was widespread and at its height , the strikes were supported by about 100,000 workers . Labor continued to work to organize into unions to work for better wages and conditions .