Watch American Experience: The Mine Wars

The Mine Wars is a historical documentary film that delves into the story of the coal miners' struggles in West Virginia in the early 20th century. The film, as part of the American Experience series, is directed by Randall MacLowry and narrated by Michael Murphy. The film starts by showcasing the coal mining industry's growth in the early 1900s and the power and influence of the mine owners. Coal mining in the region provided the backbone of the industrial revolution during the time. With the explosive growth of the industry came the exploitation of the coal miners and their families. The miners worked in terrible conditions and were paid very little. Additionally, they were forced to live in company towns where they had to buy everything at inflated prices.

The film then shifts focus to the formation of labor unions and their struggle for better working conditions, wages, and benefits. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), under the leadership of John L. Lewis, gained traction and organized the miners throughout the region. It was during this time that the film introduces an important figure, Mother Jones, who was a prominent leader in the labor movement. She traveled throughout the country, organizing and galvanizing miners, and was a ferocious advocate for their rights.

The Mine Wars explores the infamous West Virginia Mine Wars, which lasted from 1912 to 1921. This period in West Virginia history was marked by severe violence perpetrated by both the coal operators and the miners. Clashes between the two groups resulted in gun battles, bombings, arson, and murder. The film shows how the mine owners hired private security firms, or thug armies, to intimidate, arrest, and even kill union organizers and members. The miners called these men the 'Baldwin Felts Detectives.' The state governor, William Glasscock, declared martial law in the region and sent in the National Guard to restore order, which only escalated the violence.

The film examines one of the pivotal events of the West Virginia Mine Wars - the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. The miners had grown tired of the mine owners' tactics and decided to strike. The strike quickly turned into a rebellion, and over 10,000 miners took up arms to march on Logan County to support striking miners there who'd been driven from their homes. The miners faced private security forces employed by the mine operators, the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, and the West Virginia State Police. The ensuing clash led to the deaths of over 100 people, most of whom were miners.

The Mine Wars also takes a look at the role of the media during the time. The film shows how the media created narratives that favored the coal operators and painted the miners as dangerous criminals, while they ignored or downplayed the incredible violence committed against miners and their families by the security forces. This skewed reporting further inflamed the tensions between the miners and the miners' union versus the mine operators and the state government.

In conclusion, The Mine Wars is a powerful and important documentary that explores a significant period in American history that is often overlooked. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in labor history, industrialization, and the evolution of American capitalism. The documentary's insightful narration, historical footage, and interviews with historians and descendants of miners from the era give an accurate portrayal of the events that took place. The shocking events surrounding the West Virginia Mine Wars serve to remind us of the costs and sacrifices made in the pursuit of labor rights and social justice.

American Experience: The Mine Wars is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes.