The greatest strike ever pennsylvania center for the book. Joe beddall, a hardware store owner, went to the assistance of his brother, a county deputy sheriff. How a 1897 massacre of pennsylvania coal miners morphed. The federal government was used to mediate and that became part of the square deal by roosevelt. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 resulted in a victory for the hard coal miners with a 10% increase in wages and an hours reduction in their working day. The phrase became the rallying slogan for the 1900 strike as well as the famous 1902 anthracite coal strike, which won better working conditions, a shorter workday and wage hikes. Coal strike of 1902 wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Learn how teddy roosevelt saved the day in mediating an end to the anthracite coal miners strike of 1902. Working conditions were brutal for coal miners, and unionization was violently suppressed. Learn the 1902 coal strike with free interactive flashcards. The coal strike of 1902, also known as the anthracite coal strike, 1 2 was a strike by the united mine workers of america in the anthracite coalfields of eastern pennsylvania. Jacob vowell continue reading a dying miners letter to his beloved wife 1902. For more than one hundred years, until the 1920s, coal production involved blasting a seam of coal and loading it by had into a mine car.
Anthracite coal miners near hazelton prepare to go into the mine. Ap us history chapters 28 and 29 flashcards quizlet. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 washington, 1957, a product of thorough research, gives a detailed and conventional description of the strike. Gray mountain by john grisham, fall of giants by ken follett, faith, hope, and ivy june by phyllis reynolds naylor, how gre. Anthracite coal strike 1902 the clarence darrow collection. The other major type of coal used for fuel is bituminous coal, a relatively soft coal that contains a tarlike substance called bitumen. Music in the leader of the miners was willing to settle the strike by arbitration. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 law library digital. Pennsylvania anthracite coal workers strike for better. Their struggleand teddy roosevelts role in itwas to mark a turning point in labor history. But the head of the mine owners was definitely not.
In the late 1920s, operators introduced machines into the mines, including the coal loader. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 for kids theodore roosevelt was the 26th american president who served in office from september 14, 1901 to march 4, 1909. The strike began on 9 january 1972 and ended on 28 february 1972, when the miners returned to work. President theodore roosevelt initially invited the coal miners union representatives and the mine owners to meet to settle the coal strike of 1902 because the nation needed coal to provide heat in the coming winter. The library of congress does not own rights to material in its collections. All 216 miners working underground at the fraterville coal mine in tennessee, are killed by an explosion. The united mine workers of america umwa was formed in 1890. United mine workers demanded 20 percent wage increase, a reductive in daily working hours from ten to nine, and formal management recognition in their union. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 hardcover january 1, 1971 by robert j.
David edgar looks at the literature of the dispute and explores its legacy. Opposition to the strike was led by the conservative government of prime minister margaret thatcher, who wanted to. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to all major cities homes and apartments were heated with. The miners had left the anthracite fields on may 12, demanding wage. This book and a copy of the chapter are on reserve in the main library for the autumn 1999 quarter.
Miners wages had not kept pace with those of other industrial workers since 1960. The west virginia mine wars culminated in the nations largest armed uprising since the civil war. Andrew roy, a history of the coal miners of the united states, from the development of the mines to the close of the anthracite strike of 1902, 3d ed. Cornell author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Restless miners demanded more pay and shorter hours, while the mine operators complained that profits were low, and that the union destroyed discipline. The coal strike of 1902 was a strike by the united mine workers of america in the anthracite coalfields of eastern pennsylvania. Choose from 10 different sets of the 1902 coal strike flashcards on quizlet. See more ideas about coal mining, coal miners and history. Popular coal mining books meet your next favorite book. The firemen and engineers walked out on june 2, and this solidified the strike. The conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago, is now being challenged. Immediately download the coal strike of 1902 summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching coal strike of 1902. Miners struck for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of their union.
The progressive moment announced itself in 1902 with a monthslong coal strike that revealed miners to be the essential and undervalued. Union action in 1902 the anthracite strike of 1902 was an effort by the united mine workers to get higher waves, shorter hours, and recognition of their union. Miners were on strike asking for higher wages, shorter workdays and the recognition of their union. The coal strike proved the power of the labor unions. Child coal miners with mules in gary, west virginia in 1908. Roosevelts conference ended in an impasse, he threatened to take over the mines and and run them with the army. How did president roosevelt respond to a coal miner strike. Pennsylvania anthracite coal workers strike for better wages and working conditions, 1902. In 1900, john mitchell attempted to negotiate with the coal. When the two sides refused to negotiate, he threatened to use soldiers to man the mines during the strike, and the loss of money. The 1972 uk miners strike was a major dispute over pay between the national union of mineworkers num and the conservative edward heath government of the united kingdom.
West virginia miners first went on strike at hawks nest in 1880, their principal grievance then and in every strike since has been inadequate pay. Doris kearns goodwins book leadership in turbulent times looks at. Price new from used from hardcover, 1971 please retry. Mitchell and the strikers conceded for the time, but tension still remained between the workers and operators, and the conflict between them culminated in the anthracite coal strike of 1902. What did roosevelt do when the united mine workers called. A history of the coal miners of the united states, from the development of the mines to the close of the anthracite strike of 1902, including a brief sketch of early british miners by roy, andrew and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 for kids theodore roosevelt was the 26th american president who served in. The coal miners strike of 1897 187 the inauguration of a strike to enforce these demands was left to the discretion of the national executive board and district presidents of the united mine workers, who were instructed at the national convention to meet later in columbus, ohio, and decide when, in their judgment, the time had become opportune. The womens garment industry and the ilgwu in pennsylvania 2002. This article comes from an american miner, resident all his life in the mining district of pennsylvania.
But they suffocate before rescue workers can reach them. He was brutally murdered by a mob of his own neighbors in the first ward of shenandoah, pa. What a 1902 coal strike tells us about essential workers today. The strike of 1900 was the prelude to a larger dramathe great anthracite coal strike of 1902. Fighting for safety standards, grievance procedures and better pay, workers in many trades held strikes to get the. On october 3, 1902, president theodore roosevelt met with miners. The pennsylvania miners strike in 1902, a major strike of miners in the coal regions of eastern pennsylvania usa in may october 1902. The country relied on coal to power commerce and industry and anthracite or hard coal was essential for domestic heating. His comparatively brief education in the public schools of the commonwealth has been supplemented, like that of many other americans in his walk of life.
The result was a settlement that granted the anthracite miners a wage. The nonenglish speaking miners, introduced to break labor organizations, had. The pennsylvania center for the book great anthracite. In early 1902 this union made demands for additional wage increases and an eight hour workday, and the resulting impasse led to a strike on may 12th. The 1902 coal strike flashcards and study sets quizlet. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. The union representing these miners was the united mine workers of america, led by john mitchell. Anthracite coal strike commission appointed 1902 by. On july 30, 1902 the great anthracite coal strike, which was already in progress, took a violent turn.
When the operators refused, more than 100,000 miners and laborers. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 michael hannon 2010 anthracite coal anthracite coal is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal with the highest carbon count and the fewest impurities of any type of coal. Perspectives on the 1902 anthracite coal strike 2002 by kenneth c. President theodore roosevelt, theodore roosevelt, coal miners, objects. On october 3, 1902, president theodore roosevelt met with miners and coalfield operators from the anthracite coalfields in pennsylvania in an attempt to settle the strike, then in its fifth month. A dying miners letter to his beloved wife 1902 flashbak. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. The history of federal government intervention in labor matters up to this time showed a clear favoritism for management. In 1902 the pennsylvania coal miners walked out of the mines in a wage dispute.
The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to major american cities. Chief john ross anthracite coal strike land of the south slavs. Some of those 26 spend their final hours writing letters to loved ones. Miners struck for higher wages, shorter workdays and the recognition of their union. In this book, keith dix explores the impact of technology on miners and operators during a crucial period in industrial history. The early 20th century was marked by tensions between workers and employers. The coal strike of 1902 also known as the anthracite coal strike was a strike by the united mine workers of america in the anthracite coalfields of eastern pennsylvania. Coal strike of 1902 project gutenberg selfpublishing. This volume is an invaluable source book for anyone searching for the meaning of the strike.
Chronology of the anthracite coal strike of 1902 ehistory. A strike of millionaires against miners or the story of spring valley by henry d. The coal strike of 1902 began in may 1902 when the coal operators in the. Read about the strike and the presidents intervention, and check your understanding with. Click on almost any picture in this story to see its full version. In 1898, john mitchell, a bituminous coal miner from illinois, was elected the president of the umwa. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 resulted in a victory for the hardcoal miners with a 10% increase in wages and an hours reduction in their working day.
Teddy roosevelt and the 1902 coal miners strike britannica. The groundwork for the 1900 anthracite coal strike was laid by the unexpected. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. Purposes and ideals philadelphia, american book and bible house, 1903, p.
1092 1137 1234 756 898 991 1216 1171 735 233 665 971 672 1285 389 1179 131 580 53 1520 1192 889 790 1252 932 1460 687 293 1545 639 142 192 668 1522 496 1513 34 397 29 1209 1241 850 311 318 487