In May 12, 1902, a coal strike broke out at the anthracite coal mines in Pennsylvania and was led by the United Mine Workers of America. 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. All economic and political control was in the hands of the massive corporations. The 'Long Strike of 1875' was instigated by the Molly Maguires, a secret society of Irish coal miners in Pennsylvania. 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Fact 7: The Unions: The Western Federation of Miners (WFM) was a more radical labor union that was founded in 1893. Anthracite coal has fewer impurities so it burns cleaner than soft coal, with almost no smoke, which made it particularly well-suited for heating. Accordingly, taking the natural, and quite logical, point of view of the coal operators,—the officials of the railroads controlling the anthracite coal industry,—the Mine Workers, after securing a ten-per-cent. The strike took place in the anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania and threatened to shut down he winter fuel supply to all major cities. 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. 10,000 new members immediately joined the UMF. 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. The Anthracite Coal Strike was a coal miners' strike in 1902 that required involvement of President Roosevelt to come to some sort of agreement. The incident played to Roosevelt's reputation as a vigorous, action-oriented President, and Roosevelt himself did not shy from expressing his opposition to corporate monopolies. President Theodore Roosevelt became involved and set up a fact-finding commission that suspended the strike. The workers wanted a 20% pay increase as well as decreasing work hours from 10 to 9 hours. 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 Anthracite Coal Strike in northeastern Pennsylvania had been going on for over four months with no signs of ending. He has created this site to empower Americans of all backgrounds to increase their historical literacy. Anthracite Coal Strike 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. ● The miners asked for a 20% wage increase, and most were given a 10% increase● The miners who worked 10 hours a day had asked for an eight-hour day, they were given a nine-hour day● While the mine owners refused to recognize the UMF, but were required to agree to a six-man arbitration board, consisting of equal numbers of labor and management representatives, with the power to settle labor disputes. months[7] = " This website is produced by the Siteseen network that specializes in producing free informative websites on a diverse range of topics. Choose from 10 different sets of The 1902 Coal Strike flashcards on Quizlet. The 1897 strike by the Soft-coal (bituminous coal) miners in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and western Pennsylvania, resulted in wage increases and the significant growth in Union membership. The mine owners also charged high prices at the company stores that were deducted from the miner's wages. Great Anthracite Coal Strike for kidsInteresting facts about the Great Anthracite Coal Strike are detailed below. Federal troops were used in the great Railroad Strikes of 1877 and 1894, for instance. The miners strongly opposed the view that they were just a 'commodity'. He holds a B.A. The settlement also increased Roosevelt's popularity and strengthened the presidency. "; The strike went on for months, causing some businesses and schools to close because of a lack of coal for heating. "; After much political wrangling this commission eventually ended up with seven members -- including one labor union man whose official role was "eminent sociologist". The strike failed and 20 members of the Molly Maguires were unjustly hanged for murder. No longer could companies and businessmen hire police to enforce what they wanted. "; What broad shift in the approach of the Federal Government and its role in labor disputes is illustrated when one compares the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902? First of all, the strike led states to form state police forces and do away with hired gun commissions. Restless miners demanded more pay and shorter hours, while the mine operators complained that profits were low, and that the union destroyed discipline. The country relied on coal to power commerce and industry and anthracite or “hard coal” was essential for domestic heating. Interesting history and the Great 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Facts for kids are continued below. The strike dragged on through the summer and into the fall; business and schools were forced to close their doors because of a lack of coal for … In May 1902, 150,000 mineworkers struck for six months for union recognition, higher wages, shorter hours, and other demands. The largest deposits of anthracite coal were in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This commission interviewed 538 people in the coal industry, both workers and management, over the course of three months. A political cartoon. The initial meeting took place on October 3rd with all the key actors, and it was decided that a longer-term investigation would commence. A breaker boy was a coal-mining worker in the United States and United Kingdom [citation needed] whose job was to separate impurities from coal by hand in a coal breaker.Although breaker boys were primarily children, elderly coal miners who could no longer work in the mines because of age, disease, or accident were also sometimes employed as breaker boys. Now state police would work for … Chinatown's Sex Slaves - Human Trafficking and San Francisco's History. Clarence Darrow … When the United Mine Workers in Pennsylvania went on strike in 1902, the crisis became serious enough that President Theodore Rooseveltstepped in to arbitrate a settlement. Coal was a very common method of home heating in the early 1900s. Under Mitchell's leadership, the ranks of the union swelled from 34,000 to 300,000 members, 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Fact 13: On Friday, October 3, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt intervened, worried that if the strike continued for too long, the nation would face a coal shortage that could close down the factories and leave homes cold in the approaching winter, 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Fact 15: The strike lost some of its impact when John Mitchell agreed to negotiate. The history of Great Anthracite Coal Strike is told in a factual sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the history and events of the Great Anthracite Coal Strike. months[11] = "The diverse range of websites produced by the Siteseen Network have been produced to help you conduct research on many topics of interest. Among these were the strike which culminated in the Lattimer Massacre and the Coal Strike of 1902. Coal miners had a number of grievances related to the work they performed. months[0] = " Discover the vast range of useful, leisure and educational websites published by the Siteseen network. Did the Mayflower Go Off Course on Purpose? At first, there was little reason to believe that this would be any more remarkable then the myriad other work stoppages of the era. In return, the miners returned to work on October 23rd, in time to ensure a steady supply for the winter. There was no real backup material at that time. The country relied on coal to power commerce and industry and anthracite or “hard coal” was essential for domestic heating. In textile strikes they are of two or three closely related classes of labor. Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 Fact Sheet:  Facts for kids, 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Fact 1: Statistics: In 1901 the output of anthracite coal totaled over 60 million long tons and generated 15% of America's energy, 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Fact 3: Statistics: Between 1870-1901, the number of miners killed in the anthracite industry was 10,318, 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike Fact 5: Statistics: In 1900, there were 143,824 miners working in the anthracite region. President Theodore Roosevelt feared “untold misery…with the certainty of riots which might develop into social war.” He felt something must be done. Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 - President Theodore Roosevelt Video The article on the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. Dan Bryan is the founder and editor of American History USA. Miners striked for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of their union. The strike began in eastern Pennsylvania, where almost all anthracite coal was mined at the time, on May 12, 1902, after the railroad companies which owned the … Mine owners, led in this contest by George Baer of the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad, were equally determined to dig in, without the distractions of a national election to pressure them into further concessions. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to major American cities. Labor shortages had been solved in with the use of immigrants from Europe. No longer could companies and businessmen hire police to enforce what they wanted. The following video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 26th American President whose presidency spanned from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909. The strike threatened to shut down the fuel supply to all major cities. A GREAT anthracite coal strike, laying idle 160,000 men and boys and affecting the profits of some $1,000,000,000 of capital, is not the simple thing many people think it. "; He easily won re-election in 1904 against a more conservative, "Bourbon Democrat" opponent. Government comes to an agreement and takes workers side and gives workers 9 … When the two sides refused to negotiate, he threatened to use soldiers to man the mines during the strike, and the loss of money for … The coal-mining region of Eastern Pennsylvania rose to meet this demand. The eastern region of Pennsylvania contained (and still contains) the largest deposits of anthracite coal in the United States, and was furthermore located conveniently to all of the major Northern, industrial cities of the early 1900s. However, if that process had a beginning point, it could be said to be the strike of 1902 and Teddy Roosevelt's response. Hazards abounded. Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 for kids: The MinersThe miners strongly opposed the view that they were just a 'commodity'. "; Two hundred people or more died in a single incident at Scofield Mine in Utah, in 1900. The largest deposits of anthracite coal were in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This is according to the latest report of the Bureau of Mines. The Wagner Act of 1935 was the capstone in that regard, driven by the perils of the Great Depression. The union representing these miners was the United Mine Workers of America, led by John Mitchell. The cost of coal in the United States continued to increase, putting consumers and businesses alike at the mercy of a shortage. The other major type of coal used for fuel is bituminous coal, a relatively soft coal that contains a tarlike substance called bitumen. Operators of the mines were not disposed to compromise on such issues. Public anxiety about the prospect of a winter without coal was beginning to make itself felt. Because there was a lot of demand for coal mine workers, they were able to form a union; however, at that point in time, unions were a new phenomenon, and owners were often unwilling to recognize them, let alone bargain with them. Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 for kids Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th American President who served in … 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.Miners striked for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of their union.The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to major American cities. trust-busting. It would not be until the 1920s and later that coal was widely challenged as a home heating material.The coal-mining region of Eastern Pennsylvania rose to meet this demand. Check out the Siteseen network of educational websites. One of the important events during his presidency was the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902. The Coal Strike of 1902 was a strike by the United Mine Workers of America in the anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania. In the country as a whole, well over a thousand miners died each year, from 1900 all the way through the end of World War II. As summer turned into fall, it became clear that no quick solution was forthcoming. 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, Early Coal Mining in the Anthracite Region by Richards, John Stuart. Breaker boys often formed and joined trade unions, and precipitated a number of important strikes in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. Anthracite—or hard coal—was solid and rich in carbon, ideal for industrial and domestic use. months[5] = " Uncover a wealth of facts and information on a variety of subjects produced by the Siteseen network. "; months[9] = " Looking for accurate facts and impartial information? By arranging for labor and management to meet face-to-face, Roosevelt unofficially recognized the union for the first time. Pay was also a serious issue. Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 for kids Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th American President who served in … As coal resources decreased, Roosevelt had to take action. 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. Once the strike ended, the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission visited the Coal Region for a week of site visits. The newspaper are somewhat in excess. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 for kids: What is Anthracite Coal?What is Anthracite Coal? Hired guards of questionable quality and scruples (see The Coal and Iron Police) surrounded the mines, while the strikers intercepted and harassed incoming trains and threatened the lives of any "scabs". A Chronology of the Anthracite Strike of 1902 The Anthracite Strike of 1900 The Anthracite Carrying Railways George F. Baer, leader of the anthracite operators in 1902 George F. Baer explains the operators' position to a government panel A General View of the Strike months[8] = " Get fast, free facts and information on a whole host of subjects in the Siteseen network of interesting websites. Politically, Roosevelt's strong intervention worked to his advantage. The unions were willing to negotiate but the coal miners refused to participate in the conciliation process until President Roosevelt intervened. While bituminous coal is easier to ignite and more commonly found in the United States, anthracite coal is the superior product when it comes to providing heat. (Arcadia Publishing,2002) [Paperback], Quotes of American History: William Graham Sumner on Natural Rights, The American Mafia in the Early 20th Century, 5 Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents, The Fourteen Points, the League of Nations, and Wilson's Failed Idealism, Body Horrors -- "Blood Money: Hookworm Economics in the Postbellum South", The History of the United States, in 10,000 Words, Joseph McCarthy, and Other Facets of the 1950s Red Scare. The history of Great Anthracite Coal Strike is told in a factual sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the history and events of the Great Anthracite Coal Strike. Company towns to house the miners returned to work on October 23rd, in 1900 in over. ; months [ 9 ] = `` Looking for accurate facts and information. '' given off by coal which led to massive explosions union, and led Theodore Roosevelt “! Over four months with no signs of ending of immigrants from Europe of site visits coal! 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