Battle of Blair Mountain

Quick Facts: Who was Battle of Blair Mountain?

Subject:

Battle of Blair Mountain

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The largest labor uprising in US history; a violent coal miners' struggle.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Battle of Blair Mountain was the largest labor uprising in United States history and is the largest armed uprising since the American Civil War. The conflict occurred in Logan County, West Virginia, as part of the Coal Wars, a series of early-20th-century labor disputes in Appalachia. For five days, from late August to early September 1921, 10,000 armed coal miners confronted 3,000 lawmen and strikebreakers (called the Logan Defenders) who were backed by coal mine operators during the miners' attempt to unionize the southwestern West Virginia coalfields when tensions rose between workers and mine management. The battle ended after approximately one million rounds were fired, and the United States Army, represented by the West Virginia National Guard, which was led by McDowell County native William Eubanks, intervened by presidential order. Since the founding of the United Mine Workers union, a trade union founded with a focus on coal miners, in 1890, coal mines in Mingo County, West Virginia and its surrounds hired only non-union workers, and strictly enforced employment contracts that included union membership as grounds for immediate termination.

Career & Major Achievements

As miners in the area lived almost exclusively in company towns, termination also meant eviction. Company homes were all that were available, so evicted workers were forced to live in tent colonies along the Tug Fork River. Rows of company houses were boarded up, and the miners and their families, including in one instance a woman with a newborn, were thrown out and had to live in tents or board houses with no sides. In 1920, the UMW's new president John L. Lewis sought to finally end the three-decade resistance to unionization in the area. He was under increased pressure to do so from both miners elsewhere participating in the United Mine Workers coal strike of 1919, and from affected mine operators who were now being undercut by nonunion mines in West Virginia.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

One of the workers from the Keystone Mine said miners from Illinois and Pennsylvania had put up fliers about joining the union. The miners were paid very little: "You could go in the mines and load five or six cars of coal and couldn't come out to the company store and get enough food to feed your family till you worked another day." This unionization push included efforts from Frank Keeney, president of the local union district, and Mother Jones, who gave fiery speeches at the age of 83. and call out for all the men that wanted to be let out of slavery to follow her. And they did, scores of them." Over 3,000 Mingo County miners joined the union—and were summarily fired. The coal companies then hired agents of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency to evict the families of their former employees.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1890: 1890 Milestone — Since the founding of the United Mine Workers union, a trade union founded with a focus on coal miners, in 1890, coal mines in Mingo County, West Virginia and its surrounds hired only non-union workers, and strictly enforced employment contracts that included union membership as grounds for immediate termination.
2. 1919: 1919 Milestone — He was under increased pressure to do so from both miners elsewhere participating in the United Mine Workers coal strike of 1919, and from affected mine operators who were now being undercut by nonunion mines in West Virginia.
3. 1920: 1920 Milestone — In 1920, the UMW's new president John L.
4. 1921: 1921 Milestone — For five days, from late August to early September 1921, 10,000 armed coal miners confronted 3,000 lawmen and strikebreakers (called the Logan Defenders) who were backed by coal mine operators during the miners' attempt to unionize the southwestern West Virginia coalfields when tensions rose between workers and mine management.

Notable Quotes by Battle of Blair Mountain

“Mother Jones would "come up to the head of the creek ... and call out for all the men that wanted to be let out of slavery to follow her. And they did, scores of them."”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Battle of Blair Mountain

True or False: “The Battle of Blair Mountain was fought primarily over issues related to unionization and company control in the coalfields.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The conflict stemmed from miners' efforts to unionize against mine operators who enforced anti-union contracts.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Beck — Historical peer (Born in 1921) (1921): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Historical peer (Died in 1921) (1921): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Historical peer (Born in 1890) (1890): Pioneering nonviolent activist and founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
• Agatha Christie — Historical peer (Born in 1890) (1890): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• Abraham Kuyper — Historical peer (Died in 1920) (1920): Influential neo-Calvinist pastor, journalist, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
• Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani — Historical peer (Born in 1920) (1920): Emir of Qatar (1960–1972) whose reign oversaw the nation's oil boom and independence.
• Adelina Patti — Historical peer (Died in 1919) (1919): Legendary Spanish-Italian soprano renowned for her bel canto technique and lyrical voice.
• Ahmed Abdallah — Historical peer (Born in 1919) (1919): Comorian politician who served as President of the Comoros from 1978 to 1989.

Frequently Asked Questions about Battle of Blair Mountain