(Resist) The West Virginia Coal Wars opened the discussion about workers rights in America.


The West Virginia Mine Wars were the result of a dispute between major coal companies and coal miners, bringing national attention to the labor struggles of workers in America.

The uprisings got their start in West Virginia, where coal mining started as early as the 1800s. By the 1900s, towns were built around high profit areas, and as coal powered both industry work and homes, the demand skyrocketed. The industry boomed, and mine owners made every effort they could to get the highest profit possible. This brought the fatality rates of workers to be the highest of any industrial business, due in part to the extremely minimal safety laws, but also the exploitation of workers, forcing them to work long hours with little pay, and to live in company owned towns that minimized their living and working conditions. 

Workers retaliated and tried to organize a union, the United Mine Workers, or UMW. The coal operators and mine owners were against this, which led to the first strike in 1912, a 13 month event taking place in Paint Creek and Cabin Creek. Over the next couple years several more outbursts occurred farther south, and the violence and tensions peaked in the Matewan Massacre.

The Matewan Massacre of 1920 killed 10 people, including the mayor in a shootout between coal miners and the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency, who was hired to stop union activity. 

The next year in 1921, Sid Hatfield, the former chief of police, and his friend Ed Chambers,  were killed in front of the McDowell County Courthouse by Baldwin Felts agents while appearing in court. Both were working with union coal workers, and both were responsible for deaths of several agents in Matewan.

Following their murder, union miners listed their demands for the current Governor Morgan, which he denied. He also refused to acknowledge Hatfield or Chambers death, or the agents responsible. Later in 1921, 15,000 miners gathered, the largest armed gathering in American labor history, planning to march to Logan County to kill a sheriff known for supporting and being funded by mine operators, as well as free workers arrested in Mingo. 

The march was stopped in Blair Mountain. Don Chafin, the sheriff, had composed a group to protect himself. 70 miners started up Blair Mountain, killing one of Chafins sheriffs and losing one miner, and officially starting the battle. Over 3 days, miners fought Chafins army, and on the second day Chafin released 2 gas bombs and 2 actual bombs. The union, who were winning at the time, started to move closer to Logan, but were stopped when the federal government was called. They surrendered, as they were only fighting against local and state governments. Although the union did not free the miners or remove Chafin from power, they saw the battle as successful as the involvement of the military allowed the law to return to normal in September 1921. 

In the following year, several organizers of the UMW were sentenced in court, bringing national recognition to the labor rights movement. 

The West Virginia Mine Wars kickstarted the fight for workers rights, and brought attention to the struggles of workers, including exploitation for extremely low wages. It highlighted the power dynamics of mine owners and their workers, and cases like Sheriff Chafin, who was paid to allow this to happen. This paved the way for later movements to fight for better conditions and equality in the workplace.  

The Blair Mountain battle and the march on Logan was one of the first documented cases of resistance against oppressive companies in the fight for equality, and basic human rights. Although many of these fights are still ongoing, the Coal Wars were a pivotal first step in the broader movement.

Coal Wars- Lily S

(Resist) 

The West Virginia Coal Wars opened the discussion about workers rights in America.

The West Virginia Mine Wars were the result of a dispute between major coal companies and coal miners, bringing national attention to the labor struggles of workers in America.

The uprisings got their start in West Virginia, where coal mining started as early as the 1800s. By the 1900s, towns were built around high profit areas, and as coal powered both industry work and homes, the demand skyrocketed. The industry boomed, and mine owners made every effort they could to get the highest profit possible. This brought the fatality rates of workers to be the highest of any industrial business, due in part to the extremely minimal safety laws, but also the exploitation of workers, forcing them to work long hours with little pay, and to live in company owned towns that minimized their living and working conditions.

Workers retaliated and tried to organize a union, the United Mine Workers, or UMW. The coal operators and mine owners were against this, which led to the first strike in 1912, a 13 month event taking place in Paint Creek and Cabin Creek. Over the next couple years several more outbursts occurred farther south, and the violence and tensions peaked in the Matewan Massacre.

The Matewan Massacre of 1920 killed 10 people, including the mayor in a shootout between coal miners and the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency, who was hired to stop union activity.

The next year in 1921, Sid Hatfield, the former chief of police, and his friend Ed Chambers, were killed in front of the McDowell County Courthouse by Baldwin Felts agents while appearing in court. Both were working with union coal workers, and both were responsible for deaths of several agents in Matewan.

Following their murder, union miners listed their demands for the current Governor Morgan, which he denied. He also refused to acknowledge Hatfield or Chambers death, or the agents responsible. Later in 1921, 15,000 miners gathered, the largest armed gathering in American labor history, planning to march to Logan County to kill a sheriff known for supporting and being funded by mine operators, as well as free workers arrested in Mingo.

The march was stopped in Blair Mountain. Don Chafin, the sheriff, had composed a group to protect himself. 70 miners started up Blair Mountain, killing one of Chafins sheriffs and losing one miner, and officially starting the battle. Over 3 days, miners fought Chafins army, and on the second day Chafin released 2 gas bombs and 2 actual bombs. The union, who were winning at the time, started to move closer to Logan, but were stopped when the federal government was called. They surrendered, as they were only fighting against local and state governments. Although the union did not free the miners or remove Chafin from power, they saw the battle as successful as the involvement of the military allowed the law to return to normal in September 1921.

In the following year, several organizers of the UMW were sentenced in court, bringing national recognition to the labor rights movement.

The West Virginia Mine Wars kickstarted the fight for workers rights, and brought attention to the struggles of workers, including exploitation for extremely low wages. It highlighted the power dynamics of mine owners and their workers, and cases like Sheriff Chafin, who was paid to allow this to happen. This paved the way for later movements to fight for better conditions and equality in the workplace.

The Blair Mountain battle and the march on Logan was one of the first documented cases of resistance against oppressive companies in the fight for equality, and basic human rights. Although many of these fights are still ongoing, the Coal Wars were a pivotal first step in the broader movement.

Lily Sanchez