The commission then held three and half months of hearings, in which john mitchell presented much of the evidence for the mine workers. Congressional response to theodore roosevelt in 1902. The pennsylvania center for the book great anthracite coal. It was settled when roosevelt got involved in the negotiations. Pennsylvania anthracite coal workers strike for better wages. The library of congress does not own rights to material in its collections. The firemen and engineers walked out on june 2, and this solidified the strike.
President theodore roosevelt became involved and set up a factfinding commission that suspended the strike. How did theodore roosevelt end the 1902 coal strike answers. The one hindrance to traffic was the flood season of last june, but even that was. Once the anthracite strike commission was formed, the workers returned to the mines and awaited its findings. Once the strike ended, the anthracite coal strike commission visited the coal region for a week of site visits. On friday, october 3, 1902, president theodore roosevelt called a precedent shattering meeting at the temporary white house at 22 lafayette place, washington.
The coal strike of eastern pennsylvania had the miners requesting high wages and reduced hours of work. The country relied on coal to power commerce and industry and anthracite or hard coal was essential for domestic heating. The progressive moment announced itself in 1902 with a monthslong coal strike that revealed miners to be the essential and undervalued. Coal strike of 1902 encyclopedia article citizendium. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 was significant because it was the first time in american history that the president took direct, nonmilitant action. The industry, still smarting from its concessions in 1900, opposed any federal role. However, that report was not released because roosevelt feared it would look like. 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 john stuart richards early coal mining in the anthracite region by richards, john stuart. The anthracite strike of 1902 was an effort by the united mine workers to get higher waves, shorter hours, and recognition of their union.
The strike was settled when representatives of mark hanna, the chairman of the republican party and a bituminous operator from ohio, urged representatives of j. The history of federal government intervention in labor matters up to this time showed a clear favoritism for management. The pennsylvania center for the book great anthracite. Apr 29, 2020 bloomberg quint is a multiplatform, indian business and financial news company. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Anthracite coal strike commission appointed 1902 by president. The marble and bronze statue was dedicated to the union leader, located at the lackawanna county courthouse where the anthracite coal strike commission began its hearings in november of 1902. This volume is an invaluable source book for anyone searching for the meaning of the strike. Miners were on strike asking for higher wages, shorter workdays and the recognition of their union. What a 1902 coal strike tells us about essential workers today.
In late october 1902, president theodore roosevelt felt relieved after months of anxiety and uncertainty. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 lasted from may 12 until october 23 demonstrated both the growing power of labor in american industry and a greater willingness among elected officials to intervene in labor situations in order to reduce social turmoil. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 had a great impact on the united states. 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. 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. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 university of minnesota. No longer could companies and businessmen hire police to enforce what they wanted. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free ends in 02d 14h 33m 38s. 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.
Anthracite coal strike commission appointed 1902 by. This is a topic suggestion on the anthracite coal strike of 1902 from paper masters. 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. Miners struck for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of their union. A great strike in the anthracite coal fields of pennsylvania threatened a coal famine. The federal government was used to mediate and that became part of the square deal by roosevelt. Reprinted october 1920 with subsequent agreements and the majority and minority reports of the united states anthracite coal commission 1920 19021903, united states. There are suggestions below for improving the article. The coal strike proved the power of the labor unions. Washington was to collect money from sales of public lands in western states and use funds for development of irrigation projects panama canal.
When the two sides refused to negotiate, he threatened to use soldiers to man. Now state police would work for both sides to uphold the law. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to major american cities. Nov 03, 2010 the coal strike proved the power of the labor unions. A true story of martial law in an anthracite mining community on. To this day people still gather around the statue to celebrate john mitchell day on october 29, in remembrance of mitchells success in the. Workers in pennsylvanias anthracite coal industry had. Why was the 1902 coal strike significant in us history answers. 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. Pennsylvania anthracite coal workers strike for better.
On may 12, 1902, after mine operators refused a request to negotiate with workers, coal miners in scranton, pennsylvania voted to go on strike. The 1897 bituminous coal strike had several results. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 washington, 1957, a product of thorough research, gives a. Restless miners demanded more pay and shorter hours, while the mine operators complained that profits were low, and that the union destroyed discipline. Some images display only as thumbnails outside the library of congress because of rights considerations, but you have access. Learn the 1902 coal strike with free interactive flashcards.
Intense pressures, however, challenged their resolve to stay out of the mines, including homelessness, as companies evicted them. The other major type of coal used for fuel is bituminous coal, a relatively soft coal that contains a tarlike substance called bitumen. Coal strike of 1902 project gutenberg selfpublishing. The immigrant workers, who came over from southern and eastern europe were highly overworked and underpaid, not to mention treated very poorly on the job. The issues that led to the strike of 1900 were just as pressing in 1902.
Anthracite coal strike commission, 1902 1903 from old catalog. These study tools will test you on the 1902 anthracite coal strike, including reasons for the strike and responses by both the mines owners and the u. Report to the president on the anthracite coal strike of. Morgan, whose bank was reorganizing the railroads that owned most of the anthracite coal mines, to settle. May 12, 1902 the impact the historic anthracite coal strike of 1902 was extremely inevitable. 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. Chief john ross anthracite coal strike land of the south slavs. To end this strike, which threatened the nations railroad industry, president theodore roosevelt called for a commission to investigate the interests of the union and companies. Anthracite coal strikeunited states 1902 source for information on anthracite coal strike. 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.
A true story of martial law in an anthracite mining community. Reprinted october 1920 with subsequent agreements and the majority and minority reports of the united states anthracite coal commission 1920 1902 1903, united states. 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. 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. Learn how teddy roosevelt saved the day in mediating an end to the anthracite coal miners strike of 1902. The strike were settled with the strikers getting a 10% pay raise and their work day reduced to 9 hours.
On friday, october 3, 1902, president theodore roosevelt called a precedentshattering meeting at the temporary white house at 22 lafayette place, washington. Coal strike of 1902 was a good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. The coal strike of 1902 was a strike by the united mine workers of america in the anthracite coal fields of eastern pennsylvania. The strike of 1900 was the prelude to a larger dramathe great anthracite coal strike of 1902.
Cherokees had a national press, a free public school program, and a. On october 3, 1902 president theodore roosevelt met with miners and coal field operators in an attempt to settle the anthracite coal strike, then in its fifth month. What did theodore roosevelt do to end the coal strike of 1902. To learn more about the 1902 anthracite strike, click here. United mine workers demanded 20 percent wage increase, a reductive in daily working hours from ten to nine, and formal management recognition in. We combine bloombergs global leadership in business and financial news and data, with quintillion medias deep expertise in the indian market and digital news delivery, to provide high quality business news, insights and trends for indias sophisticated audiences. Nov 30, 2011 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. Media in category coal strike of 1902 the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. Why was the 1902 coal strike significant in us history. Life in the coal mining towns of western pennsylvania duration. Coal was a very common method of home heating in the early 1900s. Report to the president on the anthracite coal strike of mayoctober, 1902 by united states.
The anthracite coal strike commission of 1902 was taking testimony. Roosevelt did have the strike investigated which found a lot of merit to the strikers demands. The 1902 coal strike flashcards and study sets quizlet. Emboldened by their success, and smoldering at their continued exploitation and a history of injustices, some 150,000 miners went out on strike again in may 1902. A childs story of the 1902 coal strike horrifies the country the witness sat, surrounded by powerful men in business suits, bracing for interrogation. On friday, october 3, 1902, president theodore roosevelt called a precedentshattering meeting at the temporary white house at 22 lafayette place, washington, d. The great anthracite coal strike of 1902 newspaper archives. 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. The leaders of the umw agreed with much in hannas program. The impact of the anthracite coal strike of 1902 sutori. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 april smiths technology. Report to the president on the anthracite coal strike of may. The real issue of the coal strike cartoons express opinion about the strike a description of anthracite mining written shortly after the strike ohio state university students can explore the anthracite strike on harpweek from the link on this page. Teddy roosevelt and the 1902 coal miners strike britannica.
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 coal fields of eastern pennsylvania. Nor was there a strike comparable to the great anthracite coal strike of 1902. When the two sides refused to negotiate, he threatened to use soldiers to man the mines during the strike, and the loss of money. Often there would be a central stove connected to a ventilation system, with a steady supply of fresh coal needed to keep the system working. The anthracite coal strike in northeastern pennsylvania had been going on for over four months with no signs of ending. Because of that, theodore roosevelt went down to wahington and tried to negotiate the problems with both parties. 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. There was not, as there was in 1902, a short corn crop left over from the previous year to adversely affect grain tonnage. United mine workers of america, anthracite coal strike of 1902. One of the important events during his presidency was the anthracite coal strike of 1902. Clarence darrow made the closing arguments on behalf of the union. The great coal strike of 1902 had a great impact on the society of the united states for a number of reasons. As the months of the strike wore on, the workers remained steadfast, remembering the hard lessons of lost strikes and broken solidarity in the past. 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.
Choose from 10 different sets of the 1902 coal strike flashcards on quizlet. January 1902 visual tour of a snowy, cold halifax, england with added sound version 1 duration. The union wanted recognition and a degree of control over the industry. When 140,000 coal miners in pennsylvania went on strike and demanded a 20 percent raise, a ninehour workday, and the right to organize a union, the mine operators refused to bargain. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. President theodore roosevelt feared untold miserywith the certainty of riots which might develop into. First of all, the strike led states to form state police forces and do away with hired gun commissions. At that time, residences were typically heated with anthracite or hard coal, which produces higher heat value and less smoke than soft or bituminous coal. Read about the strike and the presidents intervention, and check your understanding with. The 150,000 miners wanted their weekly pay envelope. Soon, more than 5,000 coal and iron police guarded the idle collieries in four counties, many of them street toughs recruited in philadelphia and other cities. The anthracite coal strike of 1902 research paper the anthracite coal strike of 1902 lasted from may 12 until october 23 demonstrated both the growing power of labor in american industry and a greater willingness among elected officials to intervene in. Video of teddy roosevelts intervention in a 1902 coalminers strike had a lasting impact on the american labour movement. Report of the anthracite coal strike commission, 1902.
The strike threatened to shut down the fuel supply to all major cities. The coal strike of 1902 was a strike by the united mine workers of america in the anthracite coalfields of eastern pennsylvania. The great anthracite coal strike of 1902 newspaper. Anthracite coal strike of 1902 washington, 1957, a product of thorough research, gives a detailed and conventional description of the strike.