The 1902 Coal Strike
ARBITRATION AND THE MIDDLE GROUND
Mining Towns
 Mines were controlled by “Coal Barons”, and they
usually ran the entire town, owning the houses,
stores, and almost everything else.
 This meant that they had a lot of control over the
daily lives of all coal miners.
 Low wages, VERY long 12 hour days, and
EXTREMELY dangerous conditions.
 The workers found themselves powerless because
they needed the work and had nowhere else to go.
Prior Large Strikes
 From what we studied earlier in the year, how did
both State and the Federal Governments typically
view strikes and the rights of workers versus
business?
 What did Governors and the President do to handle
strikes during the Gilded Age? (Think Homestead
and The Railroad Strike of 1877)
TR and the Strike
 TR knew the strike would cause an energy shortage at a





critical time of year.
He ordered the Miners and Mine Owners to meet and
submit to ARBITRATION.
This means that a NEUTRAL third party (or group) will
decide on how to resolve the conflict.
The mine owners were irate that they were being told
what to do, but TR was resolute.
This was a BIG departure from the Gilded Age in that the
government was stepping in to solve a problem on behalf
of the worker and company.
It fits right in with his idea of a “Square Deal”
Outcome
 The workers got shorter work days (9hours), and a
10% increase in their pay.
 The owners were not happy about this, but in the end
it kept the mines running and the people warm!
 It was a great example of Progressivism, in that it
showed that America was much more ready to accept
more balance between business and worker.
MINE COMPANIES EVICT TENANTS FROM HOUSING AND
PUT THEIR BELONGINGS IN THE STREET
If you were an owner of a large business:
 How would you view the outcome of the Coal Strike
in the following areas:

How would you compare your overall position of power related
to labor and unions?

How might your view of the government and Washington D.C.
change?
If you were a member of a any union and of the
working class:
 How would you view the outcome of the Coal Strike
in the following areas:

How might the outcome change the perception of power from
your perspective related to big companies?

How might your view of Washington D.C. and the government
change?