In the early 20th century, coal was the fuel that powered the nation. But the men who mined it in the rugged and remote hills of West Virginia endured harsh exploitation by the coal companies that controlled their lives. In the spring of 1912, miners in West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley rose up against the companies and their powerful allies in law enforcement with a strike for their right to join a union.But the mine operators responded with force. They hired private security agents to attack the miners and their families and evict them from their homes. Soon, the escalating conflict brought the era’s most notorious labor activist, Mother Jones, to the scene. A self-described “hellraiser,” Jones joined forces with miners on the ground, sparking a series of bloody armed clashes that would rage across West Virginia for the next decade. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/historytellers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other episodes from American History Tellers
Transcribed and ready to explore now
Buffalo Soldiers | Suffering in Silence | 4
26 Feb 2025
American History Tellers
Listen Now: Scam Factory
25 Feb 2025
American History Tellers
History Daily: The Battle of Karnal
24 Feb 2025
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3
19 Feb 2025
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | The Brass Letters | 1
05 Feb 2025
American History Tellers
The Irish Famine Relief Mission | Ship of Hope | 1
29 Jan 2025
American History Tellers