In 1892, at Homestead, Pennsylvania, the unionized steel workers went on strike. Which is false about the Home?

a) Carnegie conveniently found himself overseas so that he didn't have to take control and oppose Frick personally. Relations between the two were strained with Carnegie repeatedly trying to sack him or move him sideways. On balance this is true - Carnegie was pro-union, but wanted the power of the union to be reduced. As ever he was contradictory in what he said and did. b) There was a gun battle, who won is a matter of debate, it was only ended when the State guard arrived. On balance the workers were not defeated so you can say this point is true. c) Frick was seriously wounded by Alexander Berkman who shot and wounded him with two shots, but was over-powered before he could fire a third. Frick survived, this point therefore is false. d) True, skilled and unskilled workers joined the strike. Frick believed that union practices were holding back the potential profit that the Homestead plant could make and wanted all workers to take a 22% pay cut. At a time of rising steel prices that was at best delusional. The Knights of Labor, who represented many of the unskilled workers walked out with the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (AA) members.

a. Carnegie "sort of" didn't support Frick, but he high-tailed it to Scotland so that he would be out of contact with Pittsburgh, and left Frick free to do as he pleased. b. Yes, the gun battle between the workers and Pinkertons actually happened, and the workers won. c. Alas, no. An anarchist took a shot at him, from something like point-blank range, and only wounded him. Have to get those anarchists some practice time on the firing range. d. Yes.

a. Carnegie "sort of" didn't support Frick, but he high-tailed it to Scotland so that he would be out of contact with Pittsburgh, and left Frick free to do as he pleased. b. Yes, the gun battle between the workers and Pinkertons actually happened, and the workers won. c. Alas, no. An anarchist took a shot at him, from something like point-blank range, and only wounded him. Have to get those anarchists some practice time on the firing range. d. Yes.