The steel strike of 1919 was a major labor action involving over 350,000 steelworkers across the United States, primarily in the Midwest. The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers led this initiative, calling for better wages, shorter hours, and the right to unionize. Striking workers faced fierce opposition from steel companies and the government, which portrayed them as radicals and threats to national security in the post-World War I environment. During the strike, violence erupted in several plant locations, further complicating matters and drawing public scrutiny.

Despite initial momentum, the strike began to lose support as returning soldiers and an influx of immigrants willing to work for lower wages undermined strikers’ leverage. By early January 1920, many strikers were forced to return to work under their previous conditions, effectively ending the strike. The union's failure was detrimental, as it not only disbanded many organized efforts but also discouraged solidarity within other unions. The strength of the steel industry's opposition and the lack of national labor support were pivotal factors in this outcome, reflecting the broader tensions in labor relations during the decade.

The failure of the 1919 steel strike had long-lasting implications for labor movements in the U.S. It highlighted the divide between labor demands and corporate resistance. As the Amalgamated Association struggled to recover its influence, it faced a dwindling membership and loss of credibility. This event also foreshadowed the decline of organized labor in the steel industry and the challenges that would define labor relations in the years that followed, particularly during the Great Depression.