Battle of Blair Mountain

tags
Labour

The Battle of Blair Mountain was fought in 1921 by striking coal miners against coal mine owners, who were supported by the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, Virginia state police, and the American army. The vastly outnumbered and outgunned miners were defeated and as many as 100 were killed.

Following the battle, the United Mine Workers of America became more reliant on legal strategies rather than militancy. The New Deal (in 1933) was a major victory for UMWA and other unions.