1920 Alabama coal strike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alabama coal strike |
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| Date | September 7, 1920 – February, 1921 | ||
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| Goals | Union organizing | ||
| Methods | Strikes, Protest, Demonstrations | ||
| Resulted in | defeat for the union. | ||
| Parties to the civil conflict | |||
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The 1920 Alabama coal strike was a big protest by coal miners in Alabama. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union organized it. They were protesting against the companies that owned the coal mines.
This strike was a tough time. There were many conflicts, and it ended with the union losing. This was a big setback for workers' rights in Alabama at the time.
Contents
Why Miners Went on Strike
The president of the UMWA, John L. Lewis, approved the strike. It officially started on September 8, 1920. About 15,000 out of 27,000 coal miners in Alabama stopped working. Van Bittner, a vice-president of the union, came to Alabama to help lead the strike.
The miners had two main requests:
- They wanted the mine owners to officially recognize their union.
- They wanted the mine owners to pay the wages that a special commission had suggested earlier that year.
One big problem for the union was that it included both Black and white miners. Some people tried to turn miners against each other based on race. Mine owners even started a newspaper called the Workmen’s Chronicle. It was given out for free to miners. This newspaper tried to convince miners not to support the strike.
Some mines in Alabama also used a system called convict leasing. This meant that prisoners were forced to work in the mines without pay. It was a very unfair and harsh system. Some people even called it "Slavery by Another Name" because it was so similar to slavery.
What Happened During the Strike
The first major conflict happened on September 16 in Patton Junction, Alabama. There, some strikers were involved in the deaths of a mine manager and a deputy sheriff.
Sadly, Black miners often faced the worst of the violence. For example, a Black miner named Henry Junius was found dead outside of Roebuck. Many homes of workers who didn't strike were also attacked. In December, state police even fired machine guns in a Black business area in Pratt City.
Alabama's governor, Thomas Kilby, sent the Alabama State Militia and state police to the area. These troops often helped the coal companies. By February, thousands of striking workers had been forced out of their homes by the companies. They were left without a place to live.
How the Strike Ended
By the end of February, the union was spending a lot of money. They weren't making any progress, so they decided to try and find a solution. Governor Kilby was chosen to help settle the dispute.
However, Governor Kilby's decision was not good for the union. He said the mine owners did not have to recognize the union. He also refused to give the miners any wage increases. And he said the striking miners would not get their jobs back.
The national UMWA union decided to accept Governor Kilby's decision. After the strike ended, the union struggled in Alabama. By the end of the 1920s, the UMWA even closed its offices in the state. At least 16 people died during the strike. More than half of them were Black miners. Many more people were hurt.
Willie Baird's Story
On December 22, 1920, a local union leader named Adrian Northcutt was called out of his home by soldiers. His son-in-law, William (Willie) Baird, heard shots. He rushed out and found Northcutt dead. Baird then shot one of the soldiers, James Morris, to defend himself. Baird ran away but turned himself in a few days later.
On January 5, nine soldiers went into the jail where Baird was held. They overpowered the sheriff and violently killed Baird. The soldiers were later found not guilty. This event showed how difficult and unfair things were for the miners during this time.
