Avery Kay - Essay - Jackson County
Item
Title
Avery Kay - Essay - Jackson County
Description
Mine Wars
Abstract
The Beginning:
The Mine or Coal wars of West Virginia shaped more than just the people of West Virginia. In the 1920’s miners were treated horrible. They for one got paid in script which was money that miners got that only went to company general store. They also had to work in dark and tight spaces. If those weren’t bad enough most of the miners died of long disease. Anyway. In 1912-1913 miners of Paint and Cabin Creek went on strike. When miners started to go on strike the mining companies hired Baldwin-Felt (a private investigation company) to break the strike. First, Baldwin-Felts evicted miners and their families from their homes, so the miners set up camp by the entrance of the mines, but the beginning of the mine wars stared with the Bull Moose Special. The Bull Moose Special was when the Baldwin-Felt corporation drove a train through the camp and shot men, women, and children with a machine gun.
Battle of Blair Mountains:
The biggest and bloodiest battle of West Virginia history is the Battle of Blair Mountain. The Battle of Blair Mountain was when thousands of miners marched to Mingo County to unionize with miners in Logan County. On their march they stopped and camped out at Blair Mountain. When they arrived at Blair Mountains, Don Chafin (Logan’s Sheriff) had an army waiting. The battle started when four miners ran into three of Don’s deputies. One of the deputies killed one of the miners Eli Kemp. In retaliation one of the miners shot the deputy in the head insuring he was dead. After one day of mothering but gun fire the second day Chafin ordered two bombs filled with gun powder to be dropped on the West Virginia miners. Historian James Green says, “it’s something extraordinary when American citizens are being arial bombardment on their own soil.” On the third day the federal government stepped in before the miners could have a full battle with Chafin’s army. The miners surrendered to the federal government because the miners were not fighting the federal government but, the mining companies and people fighting for them. This loss marked the end of the mine wars.
The Affect:
In the end miners would go from 50,000 unionized miners to 600 and would keep falling and rising through the 20th century. Even though the number of miners went from 1,200,000 in 1920 to 600,000 in 1960 people still work in coal miners to this day. This series of events shows that the miners were ready to fight for what they thought was right. This war was more miners though it stands as a symbol. You have a say in what you think is right no matter what it’s about. This stand inspired people all over the United States and West Virginia to stand up for themselves.
The Mine or Coal wars of West Virginia shaped more than just the people of West Virginia. In the 1920’s miners were treated horrible. They for one got paid in script which was money that miners got that only went to company general store. They also had to work in dark and tight spaces. If those weren’t bad enough most of the miners died of long disease. Anyway. In 1912-1913 miners of Paint and Cabin Creek went on strike. When miners started to go on strike the mining companies hired Baldwin-Felt (a private investigation company) to break the strike. First, Baldwin-Felts evicted miners and their families from their homes, so the miners set up camp by the entrance of the mines, but the beginning of the mine wars stared with the Bull Moose Special. The Bull Moose Special was when the Baldwin-Felt corporation drove a train through the camp and shot men, women, and children with a machine gun.
Battle of Blair Mountains:
The biggest and bloodiest battle of West Virginia history is the Battle of Blair Mountain. The Battle of Blair Mountain was when thousands of miners marched to Mingo County to unionize with miners in Logan County. On their march they stopped and camped out at Blair Mountain. When they arrived at Blair Mountains, Don Chafin (Logan’s Sheriff) had an army waiting. The battle started when four miners ran into three of Don’s deputies. One of the deputies killed one of the miners Eli Kemp. In retaliation one of the miners shot the deputy in the head insuring he was dead. After one day of mothering but gun fire the second day Chafin ordered two bombs filled with gun powder to be dropped on the West Virginia miners. Historian James Green says, “it’s something extraordinary when American citizens are being arial bombardment on their own soil.” On the third day the federal government stepped in before the miners could have a full battle with Chafin’s army. The miners surrendered to the federal government because the miners were not fighting the federal government but, the mining companies and people fighting for them. This loss marked the end of the mine wars.
The Affect:
In the end miners would go from 50,000 unionized miners to 600 and would keep falling and rising through the 20th century. Even though the number of miners went from 1,200,000 in 1920 to 600,000 in 1960 people still work in coal miners to this day. This series of events shows that the miners were ready to fight for what they thought was right. This war was more miners though it stands as a symbol. You have a say in what you think is right no matter what it’s about. This stand inspired people all over the United States and West Virginia to stand up for themselves.
Youth(s) First Name and Initial of Last Name
Avery Kay
Age Division
13
Category
Essay
County
Jackson
