Ludlow Massacre Case Study

Before the government stepped in however, one of the biggest strikes most violent strikes of all time happened in 1903 Colorado. Workers formed the “Industrial Workers of the World Union” and set out to sabotage and “overthrow the whole profit making system”. This caused a problem that the federal government simply could not ignore due to the halt in production of goods needed to keep the economy moving. Then after a major fire occurred in a factory killing 146 workers, laws were put in affect to mandate minimum wages, maximum work hours, conditions of the work place and child labor

Colorado labor Wars: The Colorado labor wars were a series of labor strikes in 1903 and 1904 in the US state of Colorado, by gold and silver miners and mill workers represented by the Western Federation of Miners (WFM). Opposing the WFM were associations of mine owners and businessmen at each location, supported by the Colorado state government. The strikes were notable and controversial for the accompanying violence, and the imposition of martial law by the Colorado National Guard in order to put down the strikes. A nearly simultaneous strike in Colorado's northern and southern coal fields was also met with a military response by the Colorado National Guard. Colorado's most significant battles between labor and capital occurred between

67). As the strike began, the thousands of miners and their families were relocated into tent colonies by the union. The peaceful strike eventually came to an end April 1914, when the largest colony, Ludlow, was attacked by private detectives and the Colorado National Guard (Chicone, p. 58). The camp was heavily fired upon and set ablaze, “Twenty-five people lay dead, including two women and 11 children who were trapped beneath a smoldering tent” (Chicone, p. 58), the senseless murder of the strikers and families left an endless mark on the coal miner community. The brutality of the incident led the union to quickly label it the “Ludlow Massacre”, ensuring that it would not be mistaken as anything other than an abuse of power (Walker, p. 72). Throughout the strike and subsequent massacre, the media was a frenzy of competing messages from both the United Mine Workers of America and the Rockefeller’s Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.

It was one night on february 8, 1968 that i was walking down the street and then i noticed that there was a protest going on down the street. It was at the moment that i heard gunshots so i took cover near the closest object and i poked my head out to see what was going on. I looked out to see protesters shooting and officers with their guns out. I heard fear in everyone's voice as they were running away screaming “help me” and “watch out”. I didn't know it was that serious till i heard gunshots and seen people running. When i new it was serious i started getting more scared of what would happen i thought to myself should i stay and hide or should i get up and run away. I decided to stay and watch so i could tell people what happen and to be a

Miners who were up to their necks in horrible treatment from their employers, an army of almost 10,000 mine workers have marched on Blair Mountain in Logan County and clashed with 3,000 coal supporters and police officers. The two divided groups clashed with rifles, machine guns and even planes dropped bombs. Dozens of people were killed. Unfortunately, the federal troops weren’t fast enough getting there. This was said to have been the largest labor uprising ever! Low wages caused this battle of death and destruction. Our unions are the backbone of these wars. They were being paid with mostly scrip, which can only be used within the company store. The war on Coal was getting worse. Basically, this battle had been the climax of our wars!

The company suppressed the workers and the strike with an iron hand. The owners responded powerfully by using the services of Baldwin Felts Detective Agency, a firm specializing in breaking coal mines strike. The agency actively intimidated the workers by using powerful searchlights during night to disturb the miners, beating, torturing women and children and murdering workers. Coaxing unrest served as a pretext for the Colorado government to intervene. The intervention shifted expenses from the mine operators to the State. The strike failed to attract widespread public support as the mine operators used their social position to gain advantages and undermine the solidarity of the workers. Major publications echoed pro-business sentiments while

Mining began in Montana around 1864 when word of gold in Silver Bow Creek attracted a rush of miners. It first centered around Bannack and Virginia City, then spread across the territory. The first metal mining was for silver and gold, until the real wealth was found in Montana’s copper mines around Butte. Three men, the “Copper Kings,” fought to control Butte’s copper mines. These three men were William A. Clark, Marcus Daly, and F. Augustus Heinze. Daly soon owned a mining company called the Amalgamated Copper Mining Company, which changed to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company later. Over time, it gained control over many mines in and around Butte. These days, the future the mining remains unclear, with more people beginning to realise what effect mining has on the state’s

On March 25, 1947, a blast in Centralia Coal Mine killed 111 workers. Centralia Coal Mine No. 5 had been operational since 1907 and had never suffered a major disaster. Prior to this event only four shotfirers were killed in 1921 (Fleege). Because of the safety record of the mine, it was considered relatively safe and a disaster seemed remote. The United States had just ended a war and the economy was picking up and production needs were relatively high. Mine operators were being pushed by the federal government to produce as much coal as possible to meet the demands of the robust economy. Because of the demand, safety factors in the mines were not a top priority,

The Homestead strike in 1892 was the first major strike to take place after the downfall of the Knights. It started at Carnegie's steel plant in Homestead, PA. when workers refused to accept new wage cuts. Henry Clay Frick shut down the plant and surrounded it with guards to protect the property. The infuriated workers soon ran the guards out when they realized that Frick had intentions of reopening the plant with strikebreakers. After a thirteen hour struggle Carnegies Company persuaded the governor of Pennsylvania to provide help, the state militia was summoned to restore peace. The company began to bring in strikebreaker to replace employees who had walked out. Many of the leaders of the strike were prosecuted for rioting and murder. The steel workers' union was detroyed. Some members of Congress were sympathetic to Homestead strikers. The public in general felt little sympathy for the strikers because they felt that the working person should remain free to sell services as an individual and not through a union. Many thought that the right to work was sacred. They felt that union organizers had no business interfering

In response of changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution workers organized strikes and unions. In 1877, workers organized “Great Upheaval” railroad Strike because the company had reduced workers’ wages twice over the previous year. The strikers stopped rail traffic until the most recent pay cut was returned to the employees. Haymarket Affair was another strike which took place in 1886 in support of the 8-hour workday. On May 1, 350,000 native-born and immigrant workers gathered together to fight for their working conditions. The day became significant as an international Workers’ day. In 1892, the “Homestead Lockout” strike occurred between the Carnegie steel company many of its workers for the right to keep the steel Union alive. Also in 1894, workers of Pullman town where railroad cars were manufacturing organize a strike known as “Pullman Railroad Strike” to protest a reduction of wages for 28%.

During visits to the archive much of the focus will be to the studies of effects of strip mining what it looks like when employed on the mountain range. Research of primary source pictures will be extremely helpful in helping elaborate on the circumstances here. Reliance upon the small economy they have can be easily shown in the pictures from Anne and Harry Caudill which sadly show the gaps amidst the poor and the rich. In the archive, bills, legislation, ecological studies, and journal entries can also be found as those aware of the detrimental cause and effects strip mining and the economy and will be crucial to the argument. The peer-reviewed sources I have personally found are also supplements to the argument. The first source is that which describes the situation of President Ford deciding the passing of legislation to deter strip mining and the argument of the environmental impact with the economical reliance. Further research has lead me to a source that provides the background, trends and introduction of strip mining in Appalachia and also the gradual decline of strip mining with lack of constraints on the

It took place in Pennsylvania, where the miners were protesting the long hours, low pay, and low value. In the end the government had to step in to stop the protests. The company did give the miners higher wages and fewer work hours, but didn’t recognize the union.

In 1914, The Colorado National Guard and Colorado Fuel and Iron company were sent to Ludlow, Colorado to attack protesters. What were they protesting against? The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) organized this protest in order to basically just become a respected union in the Colorado area. They also wanted the 8 hour work day to be recognized and enforced. The miners worked under very dangerous conditions and wanted safety laws to be more strictly followed. Seems fair, right? Lots of people didn’t think so because then

The closing of mines in the mountains of Kentucky and West Virginia not only affected the people of

Much research has been done into the effects of a large coal industry. “In just the past twenty years, air pollution from coal plants have shortened the lives of more than half a million Americans.” (Jeff Goodell, 2006). Mining kills; and it even affects those uninvolved in the production of it. There are a vast amount of environmental sanctions and safety standards in mines. These are laws and regulations meant to protect the population, yet most do not follow them correctly. Companies must pay for all of this, however paying for regulations cuts into profit margins. These companies manage to still make profit by shutting down deficit mines, but mainly make up costs by laying off employees. This process results in a never-ending cycle of downtrodden individuals trying to make ends meet. Mining is a neutral party, it has negatives and positives, both of which impact the Appalachia community significantly.