During a snowstorm on april 27, 1917, 122 miners and 23 mules went in to work their shift at the mine, but just one miner came out alive after a massive explosion devastated the mine, representing colorados worst mining disaster ever. I was worried bad about my children soldiers guarding the railroad bridge every once in a while a bullet would fly. Oct 20, 2016 history professionals, such as archaeologists, participate fully in these struggles. Sep 11, 2006 the history of the ludlow massacre of striking coal miners, which was one of the most brutal attacks on organised labour in north american history.
It was one of the bloodiest episodes in the history of american class conflict, and one of the closest things to war between compatriots since the confederacy was defeated a halfcentury earlier. The united mine workers of america was formed on january 25th, 1890 in columbus, ohio. They were given orders by the state government, which was run by politicians who were owned by the coal companies. Refers to the violent deaths of 20 people, 11 of them children, during an attack by the colorado national guard on a tent colony of 1,200 striking. It was early springtime that the strike was on they moved us miners out of doors out from the houses that the company owned we moved into tents at old ludlow. Date xapril 20, 1914 ludlow massacrevictims, survivors. Full text of the ludlow massacre, revealing the horrors. The commemoration of the ludlow massacre site, a battlefield in the industrial wars of the early20th century is discussed. He grew up near lookout mountain on the tennesseegeorgia border. Ludlow massacre united states history 1914 britannica. On the morning of april 20th 1914, the colorado national guard opened fire on a coal mine stirker camp in ludlow, colorado. Ludlow massacre site trinidad, colorado atlas obscura.
The incident, known as the ludlow massacre, occured in april of 1914, and it. The news of the massacre soon reached the other tent colonies, including the large group of strikers in walsenburg. In this photograph, troopers pose in defensive positions in the ludlow ruins. In contrast, 10 officers and 12 enlisted men were courtmartialled for ludlow, by the colorado national guard, and exonerated. The scene of one of the darkest moments in american labor history has been left essentially untouched since the tragedy. The ludlow massacre, april 20, 1914, occurred when colorado. Remember ludlow by julia may courtney remember ludlow the battle cry of the crushed, downtrodden, despised miners stifled at calumet, in west virginia, in cripple creek. Armed miners at the military headquarters of the united mine workers, in trinidad. Known as the ludlow massacre, howard zinn described its importance and obscurity in the politics of history. Rockefeller to wipe out every vestige of the labor movement in colorado and to give warning to any who might demand their constitutional rights that theirs. Aftermath rights and responsibilities of the ludlow massacre. Lees bulletin spent four pages criticizing jones and her actions. To help future generations of students learn about ludlow in their history courses, we offer here an interview with zinn about the significance of ludlow and his description of the history from a peoples history of the united states.
The incident, known as the ludlow massacre, occured in april of 1914, and it sparked a 10day battle in the coalfields of the american west. The richest american family hired terrorists to shoot machine. Us workers were once massacred fighting for the protections. Ludlow massacre monument colorado walsenburg 2020 all you. Aug 30, 2014 on april 20, 1914, the colorado national guard attacked a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families in ludlow, colorado. The ludlow massacre, 1914 sam lowry the history of the ludlow massacre of striking coal miners, which was one of the most brutal attacks on organised labour in north american history. This massacre of striking workers and their families is widely seen as one of the lowest points in labor relations in u. Remembering the ludlow massacre world socialist web site.
After the firefight, guardsmen set fire to the camp, causing the deaths of several children and women taking cover. Jan 31, 2012 the events of the ludlow massacre demonstrate the ruthlessness that was employed by employers in their attempts to crush strikes, and the often brutal cooperation of government authorities in supporting the interests of business over those of the working people. On april 20, 1914, members of the colorado national guard opened fire on a group of armed coal miners and set fire to a makeshift settlement in ludlow, colorado, where more than a thousand striking workers and their families were camped out. The longabandoned town of ludlow, colorado was once a flourishing railroad. The richest american family hired terrorists to shoot. Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the ludlow massacre. Although it ended in the defeat of the union, the ludlow massacre focused national attention on the conditions in the colorado coal camps, and in labor conditions throughout the u. Shortly after woodrow wilson took office there began in colorado one of the most bitter and violent struggles between workers and corporate capital in the history of the country. The world socialist web site publishes the first installment in a fivepart series on the colorado miners strike of 191914, which culminated in the ludlow massacre and the ten days war. In addition to the miners associated victims, three company guards and one militiaman were killed in the days fighting. The lyrics to woodie guthries ludlow massacre are here 4 and the. One hundred years later, as the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest americans grows, as news reports announce the decline, or death, of the middle class, as class warfare is trumpeted by politicians and pundits, as right to work legislation is repeatedly introduced to state legislatures, and as the fight to increase the minimum wage gears up, the massacre at ludlow reminds.
As strikerelated violence mounted, colorado governor elias m. And in perhaps his most infamous bulletin on the ludlow massacre, lees aug. The hastings coal mine was located near the present site of the ludlow massacre in las animas county, about 12 miles north of trinidad. Ludlow massacre was an incident during which the colorado national guard attacked and killed several miners and their families. In ludlow, colorado, a tent city of coal miners went on strike, and officers of the colorado national guard and the colorado fuel and iron company responded violently. In 1914, after decades of feudalistic oppression, which culminated in two dozen men, women, children killed, a multinational party some veterans of various wars went on a 10 day revenge spree around colorados mining fields, beating all opposition faced. Every day, meagan day and thousands of other voices read, write, and share important stories on timeline. The ludlow massacre and class war in the american west, first paperback edition. Today a ghost town, ludlow was the site of a vicious skirmish between the colorado national guard and striking coal miners that left 20 people dead.
About 10,000 miners under the direction of the united mine. Apr 03, 2018 a fter the massacre, the strikers formed a militia with volunteer fighters from tent colonies throughout the coalfields. Ammons called the colorado national guard on october 28. The story of oil company propaganda begins in 1914, with the ludlow massacre. Colorado experience ludlow massacre season 1 episode. About 10,000 miners under the direction of the united mine workers of america umwa.
History of the murder of striking mine workers in ludlow colorado by mine company security and the colorado narional guard. This period is also referred to as the colorado coalfield war and colorado civil war. National guard troops fire into the ludlow colony resulting in the deaths of 20 strikers including 11 children and 2 women april 21 may 1, 1914 the 10day war. It was the pinnacle of efforts by the national guard and local strikebreakers under the command of the rockefeller family to suppress a strike of twelve thousand workers. Ludlow and the colorado coalfield war legends of america. Timeline world history documentaries recommended for you. The attack was meant to end the strike of the miners but resulted in many deaths. Some materials pertaining to the strike can be found in correspondence files for district 15 and the unions executive committee. Share this video on facebook share this video on twitter.
The ludlow massacre of 1914 april smiths technology. History professionals, such as archaeologists, participate fully in these struggles. The ludlow story has gotten some international media attention. The site includes a monument to those who lost their lives, a miners tent camp, storyboards and photos. View all hotels near ludlow massacre monument colorado on tripadvisor. The ludlow monument is dedicated in 1918 news stories about the ludlow monument prior to the 2003 ceremony and after the ceremony. Strikers retaliate for the massacre by destroying coal camps and taking over the major urban areas in the strike zone. At least sixtysix people were killed in the conflict, turning popular opinion against john. This was the colorado coal strike that began in september 19 and culminated in the ludlow massacre of april 1914. Social welfare history project labor history timeline. This pose is most likely for the photographer and not for any real threat. While facing public outrage, picketing, and death threats, the younger rockefeller began to realize that unquestioning reliance on the companys management had not served him well. If the coal companies wanted the strikers killed, the government was happy to go kill them.
The ludlow massacre 71 causes of the strike the bloody massacre of twentyone men, women and children at ludlow, colo. National guard troops fire into the ludlow colony resulting in the deaths of 20 strikers including 11 children and 2 women. Though a remote colorado ghost town, ludlow is famous for being the site of the 1914 ludlow massacre, a tragedy that had important lasting effects on the american labor movement. The commemoration of ludlow highlights the role of class interest in the construction of historical memory. Primary sources ludlow massacre sources research guides.
August 16, 19 baldwinfelts agents hired by the coal companies. The ludlow massacre focused national attention on the conditions in the colorado coal camps, and on labor conditions throughout the united states. The ludlow massacre and class war in the american west, first paperback edition martelle, scott on. The colorado national guard and colorado fuel and iron company guards attacked a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families in ludlow, colorado, on april 20, 1914, with the national guard using machine guns to fire into the colony. Examine the bloody history of colorado coal miners struggle for workers rights. The kind of story you expect to see a hollywood movie about. For ten days that militia went from town to town, dueling with colorado guardsmen and private agents and declaring each subsequent encampment safe for the strikers.
Ludlow massacre monument colorado walsenburg 2020 all. Summary photo shows ruins in the aftermath of the ludlow massacre, during which a tent camp of striking miners at ludlow, colorado was attacked by the colorado national guard on april 20, 1914. Thomas andrews talks about his book, killing for coal, in which he looks at the 1914 ludlow massacre, in which members of the united mine. Includes a timeline, necessary for keeping track of the events, as well as source notes by. On april 20, 1914, up to twodozen people were killed in a tent village adjacent to the ludlow coal mine in ludlow, colorado.
May 29, 2012 the world socialist web site publishes the first installment in a fivepart series on the colorado miners strike of 191914, which culminated in the ludlow massacre and the ten days war. The response was an decentralized expedition throughout southern colorado known as the ten days war. Ludlow was a company town that belonged to colorado fuel and iron. The massacre caused protests outside rockefellers new york mansion. The ludlow massacre a lot more than 2,000 miles separated the rockefeller estate from southern colorado when on monday april 20, 1914, the first shot was fired at ludlow. Apr 22, 20 one of the most significant events in the struggle for labor laws in america played out in las animas county in the spring of 1914. Nobody knows who fired the first shot, but the incident is remembered as a massacre because the miners and their families bore the brunt of the casualties. They denied access to outsiders and the strikers immediately following the massacre. Rockefellers hired militias to shoot at strikers in ludlow.
The ludlow massacre memorial, april 20th, 1914, colorado massacre on coal miners a memorial desecrated, a massacre remembered originally published in mother earth magazine in may of 1914, in response to the ludlow massacre. The colorado coalfield war archaeological project digital atlas. The ludlow massacre occurred on april 20th, 1994, in the tent town of ludlow, colorado, the intricate web of events that lead to the events that happened in ludlow are a look in to the conditions that some of the minorities and immigrants had to live in, during the early twentieth century. Following the ludlow massacre, the national guard took control of the ruins of the ludlow colony. Ross served as president of the cherokees national committee their legislature from 1819 to 1826, as delegate to the cherokee constitutional convention in 1827, as principal chief of the cherokee nation. In response to the ludlow massacre, the leaders of organized labor in colorado issued a call to arms instigating a largesclae guerilla war lasting ten days until wilson sent federal troops. Ludlow massacre, attack on striking coal miners and their families by the colorado national guard and colorado fuel and iron company. John ross, longtime leader of the cherokee nation, was born on october 3, 1790, in cherokee territory now part of alabama.
Ludlow massacreruins of the ludlow camp in colorado, 1914. The labor struggles of the early 20th century, many of which ended in violence and death, engendered deep concern at all levels of society and led to a series of governmental investigations. Louis tikas and the ludlow massacre, a look at the greek labor. The ludlow massacre of 1914 april smiths technology class. The colorado coalfield war archaeological project digital. The ludlow massacre inspired the novel king coal by upton sinclair and several popular songs, including ludlow massacre by woody guthrie, ludlow by jason boland, and the monument lest we forget by andy irvine. Militia rifle and machine gun fire claimed the lives of at least 5 strikers, an ll year old boy, and an 18 year old passerby ludlow massacre memorial and monument. The monument of the ludlow massacre shows the peoplethe miners were brutally killed for striking for their rights. Jul 23, 2019 at some point when the archives were in storage in virginia, unearthing class war boxes related to the 191914 colorado strike and the ludlow massacre disappeared.
I was worried bad about my children soldiers guarding the railroad bridge every once in a while a bullet would fly kick up gravel under my feet. The rockefellers took on the striking miners of ludlow, colorado but didnt. The ludlow massacre essay minorities, immigrants, mining. With the control of much of colorados coal mines in the hands. The ludlow massacre was a domestic massacre resulting from strikebreaking. The ludlow massacre the scoop on historyapush and more. Strikers retaliate for the massacre by destroying coal camps and taking over the major urban areas in the strike zone, such as trinidad. The ludlow massacre is seen as the culmination of the deadliest labor strike in the history of the united states. Strikers retaliate for the massacre by destroying coal camps and taking over the major urban areas in. Ludlow was a borough from 1461 to 1974 becoming a municipal borough in 1835 and a rural borough in 1967.
Striking family at ludlow shortly before the april 20, 1914 massacre. Feb 18, 2008 this is my national history day video on the colorado ludlow massacre, it took 5th at the school. Ludlow massacre, attack on striking coal miners and their families by the colorado national guard and colorado fuel and iron company guards at ludlow, colorado, on april 20, 1914, resulting in the deaths of 25 people, including 11 children. Date xapril 20, 1914 ludlow massacre victims, survivors, others involved per wikipedia. One of historys most dramatic confrontations between capital and labor the socalled ludlow massacre took place at the mines of the rockefellerowned colorado fuel. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Seeking revenge for the massacre in ludlow, they spared no. Discover ludlow massacre site in trinidad, colorado. Because of the national attention and public outcry after the event, the house committee on mines and mining released a report in 1915 that was instrumental in creating child labor laws and the eighthour work day. The ludlow massacre refers to the violent deaths of 19 people during an attack by the colorado national guard on a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families at ludlow, colorado. Ludlow is a civil parish with a town council and a mayor. An estimated two dozen people were killed, including young children.
This organization would go on to lead the colorado coal strike of 1914, which was the larger context of the ludlow massacre. Undoubtedly tens of thousands of motorists and their passengers, probably more, have passed that sign since it went up in 2009 when the memorial was recognized as a national monument and had no idea what that was all about the memorial had been there since 1916. Militia slaughters strikers at ludlow, colorado ending a bitter coalminers strike, colorado militiamen attack a tent colony of strikers, killing dozens of men, women, and children. Militia slaughters strikers at ludlow, colorado history. The fighting continued for many days after the ludlow massacre and eventually, federal troops had to come and end the conflict. Approximately 21 people, including miners wives and children, were killed.