Trade Unions

Battle of Blair Mountain (1921)

This event in West Virginia was the largest armed insurrection in U.S. history since the Civil War.

The Conflict: Approximately 10,000 union coal miners rose up and fought against 3,000 coal company guards and local law enforcement. The miners were protesting poor working conditions and the companies' use of hired detective agencies (like the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency) to suppress union organizing efforts.

The Violence: The confrontation escalated into a multi-day firefight, with biplanes even used to drop bombs on the miners. Federal troops were eventually sent in to intervene and stop the fighting.

The Aftermath: While the miners were ultimately forced to disperse, the battle highlighted the intense struggles for union recognition in the coal fields and led to increased public awareness of the conditions faced by miners.
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