Feb 18, 2008 this is my national history day video on the colorado ludlow massacre, it took 5th at the school. August 16, 19 baldwinfelts agents hired by the coal companies. An estimated two dozen people were killed, including young children. In contrast, 10 officers and 12 enlisted men were courtmartialled for ludlow, by the colorado national guard, and exonerated. Striking family at ludlow shortly before the april 20, 1914 massacre. 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. One of historys most dramatic confrontations between capital and labor the socalled ludlow massacre took place at the mines of the rockefellerowned colorado fuel. 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. Louis tikas and the ludlow massacre, a look at the greek labor.
The massacre caused protests outside rockefellers new york mansion. Full text of the ludlow massacre, revealing the horrors. Ludlow massacre monument colorado walsenburg 2020 all. Ludlow massacre monument colorado walsenburg 2020 all you. 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. 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. Ludlow massacre united states history 1914 britannica. The colorado coalfield war archaeological project digital. The monument of the ludlow massacre shows the peoplethe miners were brutally killed for striking for their rights. Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the ludlow massacre. 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.
Following the ludlow massacre, the national guard took control of the ruins of the ludlow colony. National guard troops fire into the ludlow colony resulting in the deaths of 20 strikers including 11 children and 2 women. 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. Ludlow massacre was an incident during which the colorado national guard attacked and killed several miners and their families. 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. 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. Strikers retaliate for the massacre by destroying coal camps and taking over the major urban areas in.
The lyrics to woodie guthries ludlow massacre are here 4 and the. 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. 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. 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. Ludlow massacreruins of the ludlow camp in colorado, 1914. 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. Examine the bloody history of colorado coal miners struggle for workers rights.
The ludlow monument is dedicated in 1918 news stories about the ludlow monument prior to the 2003 ceremony and after the ceremony. 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. 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. The story of oil company propaganda begins in 1914, with the ludlow massacre. 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. And in perhaps his most infamous bulletin on the ludlow massacre, lees aug. Strikers retaliate for the massacre by destroying coal camps and taking over the major urban areas in the strike zone, such as trinidad. 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. 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. We were so afraid they would kill our children we dug us a cave that was seven foot deep carried our young ones and a pregnant woman down inside the cave to sleep. 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. The richest american family hired terrorists to shoot.
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. 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. Strikers retaliate for the massacre by destroying coal camps and taking over the major urban areas in the strike zone. The response was an decentralized expedition throughout southern colorado known as the ten days war. History of the murder of striking mine workers in ludlow colorado by mine company security and the colorado narional guard. 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. Every day, meagan day and thousands of other voices read, write, and share important stories on timeline. Discover ludlow massacre site in trinidad, colorado. The kind of story you expect to see a hollywood movie about. With the control of much of colorados coal mines in the hands.
The ludlow massacre focused national attention on the conditions in the colorado coal camps, and on labor conditions throughout the united states. In addition to the miners associated victims, three company guards and one militiaman were killed in the days fighting. 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. 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.
This massacre of striking workers and their families is widely seen as one of the lowest points in labor relations in u. The fighting continued for many days after the ludlow massacre and eventually, federal troops had to come and end the conflict. 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 massacre, attack on striking coal miners and their families by the colorado national guard and colorado fuel and iron company.
The scene of one of the darkest moments in american labor history has been left essentially untouched since the tragedy. 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. 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. On the morning of april 20th 1914, the colorado national guard opened fire on a coal mine stirker camp in ludlow, colorado. About 10,000 miners under the direction of the united mine. The ludlow massacre and class war in the american west, first paperback edition martelle, scott on. 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. The ludlow massacre essay minorities, immigrants, mining.
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. 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. The commemoration of ludlow highlights the role of class interest in the construction of historical memory. 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. 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. The richest american family hired terrorists to shoot machine. 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. 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. Ludlow was a company town that belonged to colorado fuel and iron. 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. Date xapril 20, 1914 ludlow massacre victims, survivors, others involved per wikipedia.
This was the colorado coal strike that began in september 19 and culminated in the ludlow massacre of april 1914. 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 commemoration of the ludlow massacre site, a battlefield in the industrial wars of the early20th century is discussed. 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. Aftermath rights and responsibilities of the ludlow massacre.
History professionals, such as archaeologists, participate fully in these struggles. The ludlow massacre, april 20, 1914, occurred when colorado. 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. Lees bulletin spent four pages criticizing jones and her actions. Timeline world history documentaries recommended for you. Known as the ludlow massacre, howard zinn described its importance and obscurity in the politics of history. The ludlow massacre 71 causes of the strike the bloody massacre of twentyone men, women and children at ludlow, colo. The ludlow story has gotten some international media attention. John ross, longtime leader of the cherokee nation, was born on october 3, 1790, in cherokee territory now part of alabama. 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. The ludlow massacre began on the morning of april 20, 1914, when a battle broke out between the colorado national guard and striking coal miners at their tent colony outside of ludlow in las animas county. Armed miners at the military headquarters of the united mine workers, in trinidad. Remembering the ludlow massacre world socialist web site.
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. The colorado coalfield war archaeological project digital atlas. The longabandoned town of ludlow, colorado was once a flourishing railroad. The ludlow massacre was a domestic massacre resulting from strikebreaking. Social welfare history project labor history timeline. In this photograph, troopers pose in defensive positions in the ludlow ruins. 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. The attack was meant to end the strike of the miners but resulted in many deaths. 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 ludlow massacre the scoop on historyapush and more. 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. If the coal companies wanted the strikers killed, the government was happy to go kill them.
This period is also referred to as the colorado coalfield war and colorado civil war. Seeking revenge for the massacre in ludlow, they spared no. 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. Ludlow and the colorado coalfield war legends of america. The rockefellers took on the striking miners of ludlow, colorado but didnt. The news of the massacre soon reached the other tent colonies, including the large group of strikers in walsenburg. Share this video on facebook share this video on twitter. Colorado experience ludlow massacre season 1 episode. The incident, known as the ludlow massacre, occured in april of 1914, and it. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Ludlow was a borough from 1461 to 1974 becoming a municipal borough in 1835 and a rural borough in 1967. The ludlow massacre and class war in the american west, first paperback edition. Some materials pertaining to the strike can be found in correspondence files for district 15 and the unions executive committee. They denied access to outsiders and the strikers immediately following the massacre.
Ammons called the colorado national guard on october 28. About 10,000 miners under the direction of the united mine workers of america umwa. Includes a timeline, necessary for keeping track of the events, as well as source notes by. 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.
Apr 03, 2018 a fter the massacre, the strikers formed a militia with volunteer fighters from tent colonies throughout the coalfields. The ludlow massacre of 1914 april smiths technology class. The ludlow massacre is seen as the culmination of the deadliest labor strike in the history of the united states. Primary sources ludlow massacre sources research guides. Militia slaughters strikers at ludlow, colorado history. As strikerelated violence mounted, colorado governor elias m. Ludlow massacre site trinidad, colorado atlas obscura. The ludlow massacre of 1914 april smiths technology. Oct 20, 2016 history professionals, such as archaeologists, participate fully in these struggles. This organization would go on to lead the colorado coal strike of 1914, which was the larger context of the ludlow massacre.
The hastings coal mine was located near the present site of the ludlow massacre in las animas county, about 12 miles north of trinidad. 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. At least sixtysix people were killed in the conflict, turning popular opinion against john. On april 20, 1914, up to twodozen people were killed in a tent village adjacent to the ludlow coal mine in ludlow, colorado.
Us workers were once massacred fighting for the protections. 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. I was worried bad about my children soldiers guarding the railroad bridge every once in a while a bullet would fly. Date xapril 20, 1914 ludlow massacrevictims, survivors. Approximately 21 people, including miners wives and children, were killed. After the firefight, guardsmen set fire to the camp, causing the deaths of several children and women taking cover. Rockefellers hired militias to shoot at strikers in ludlow. They were given orders by the state government, which was run by politicians who were owned by the coal companies. He grew up near lookout mountain on the tennesseegeorgia border.
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