Ep 2. The Mine Wars

In American Experience season 28 episode 2, titled "The Mine Wars," viewers are taken on a journey back to the early 20th century, during a time when coal mining was a dangerous and often deadly profession. The episode focuses on the events leading up to the Battle of Blair Mountain, one of the largest armed labor uprisings in United States history.

The episode begins by introducing viewers to the coal mines of West Virginia, where workers were forced to toil in dangerous conditions, often for little pay. Company towns were the norm, and workers were often powerless to negotiate for better working conditions, higher pay, or any form of workers' rights. This creates a tense and combustible environment, setting the stage for a looming confrontation.

As tensions grow in the coal fields, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) seeks to organize workers and fight back against powerful coal companies. The UMWA is led by a charismatic leader named Frank Keeney, who is determined to win better wages, more humane work conditions, and recognition as a legitimate union.

The episode explores how Keeney and the UMWA began organizing miners and how coal companies responded with force. Battles erupt over the right to collectively bargain, as miners go on strike and the companies hire armed guards to protect their mine sites and attack striking workers.

As the conflict escalates, the UMWA calls for a nationwide strike, which leads to widespread violence and unrest. In West Virginia, miners and their families take up arms in what becomes known as the Mine Wars. The episode delves into the complexities of the conflict as miners confront, not just the companies, but also the corrupt local government, and the state police force.

Throughout the episode, viewers meet a variety of individuals who provide firsthand accounts of the conflict, including miners who risked their lives to stand up for what they believed in and the powerful coal barons who felt threatened by the growing union movement. Other key players in the story include Baldwin Felts Detective Agency, which was hired by the coal companies to harass and intimidate union workers.

Despite many setbacks, the UMWA persists in its efforts to unionize the mines, culminating in the Battle of Blair Mountain, a 10-day armed conflict that pitted striking miners against armed company forces and government troops. The episode provides a gripping account of this historic battle, displaying the terrifying and brutal nature of the fighting and the sacrifice made by those who took up arms.

Under intense pressure, the UMWA failed to achieve many of its key objectives during the Mine Wars. However, the Battle of Blair Mountain and the struggles of the miners pushed the federal government to intervene and create a commission to investigate the conflict, resulting in new legislation that empowered workers and improved work conditions across the country.

In conclusion, American Experience season 28 episode 2, "The Mine Wars," offers a detailed and thoroughly researched account of an important and often overlooked era in American history. The episode combines powerful storytelling, historical footage, and interviews to create a vivid and engaging account of one of the largest and most significant labor uprisings in American history.