Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1893-1894

Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1893-1894 was a major labor dispute in the United States, involving Western Federation of Miners (WFM) and mine owners such as James J. Brown and David Moffat. The strike was marked by violent clashes between striking miners and National Guard troops, including the Colorado National Guard, deployed by Davis Hanson Waite, the Governor of Colorado. The strike drew national attention, with figures like Eugene V. Debs and Mary Harris Jones weighing in on the issue, and was influenced by events such as the Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike.

Background

The Cripple Creek mining district was a major gold rush area, with many mines operated by companies like the Cripple Creek Mining Company and the Victor Mining Company. The Western Federation of Miners (WFM), led by Charles Moyer and Bill Haywood, had been organizing miners in the area, including those at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine and the El Paso Mine. The WFM was affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers, and had ties to other labor unions, such as the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), led by Mary Harris Jones and John Mitchell. The Colorado State Federation of Labor also played a significant role in supporting the strike.

Causes of the Strike

The strike was sparked by a combination of factors, including the introduction of the eight-hour day law, which was championed by Henry M. Teller and Edward O. Wolcott, and the use of scab labor by mine owners like James J. Brown and David Moffat. The miners were also seeking better wages and working conditions, similar to those achieved by miners in other areas, such as the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho mining district, where the Coeur d'Alene Labor Strike had taken place. The WFM was influenced by the ideas of socialism and anarchism, and saw the strike as an opportunity to challenge the power of capitalism and the mine owners, who were supported by figures like Grover Cleveland and John Sherman.

The Strike

The strike began on February 7, 1893, with miners from the Cripple Creek Mining Company and other mines walking off the job. The strike quickly spread to other mines in the area, including the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine and the El Paso Mine, and involved miners from other labor unions, such as the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The National Guard was deployed to the area, and violent clashes broke out between the striking miners and the troops, including the Colorado National Guard. The strike was marked by the use of Dynamite and other forms of sabotage by the miners, and the deployment of machine guns and other military equipment by the National Guard. Figures like Eugene V. Debs and Mary Harris Jones spoke out in support of the strike, while others, like Grover Cleveland and John Sherman, opposed it.

Aftermath and Legacy

The strike ended in June 1894, with the miners achieving some of their demands, including the eight-hour day and better wages. However, the strike also led to the blacklisting of many miners and the deportation of others, including Charles Moyer and Bill Haywood. The strike was seen as a major defeat for the Western Federation of Miners (WFM), but it also galvanized support for the labor movement and inspired other strikes and protests, including the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Bisbee Deportation. The strike was also influenced by events such as the Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike, and drew comparisons to other labor disputes, such as the Homestead Strike and the Coeur d'Alene Labor Strike.

Key Figures

Key figures involved in the strike included Charles Moyer and Bill Haywood of the Western Federation of Miners (WFM), as well as James J. Brown and David Moffat of the mine owners association. Other notable figures, such as Eugene V. Debs and Mary Harris Jones, played important roles in supporting the strike, while figures like Grover Cleveland and John Sherman opposed it. The strike also involved National Guard troops, led by Davis Hanson Waite, the Governor of Colorado, and was influenced by events such as the Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike, which were addressed by figures like Henry M. Teller and Edward O. Wolcott. Category:Labor disputes in the United States