what did teddy roosevelt do in the coal strike of 1902

What was Teddy Roosevelt's role in the Pennsylvania coal miners'strike?

In 1902 the Pennsylvania coal miners walked out of the mines in a wage dispute. Their struggle--and Teddy Roosevelt's role in it--was to mark a turning point in labor history. The leader of the miners was willing to settle the strike by arbitration.

Why did Theodore Roosevelt want to settle the coal strike?

President Theodore Roosevelt initially invited the coal miners' union representatives and the mine owners to meet to settle the Coal Strike of 1902 because the nation needed coal to provide heat in the coming winter.

What did Roosevelt say about strikes in the 1902 election?

The draft of his statement to the coal operators and union leaders at the temporary White House on October 3, 1902, stated that "no precedent of interference in strikes will be created." But Roosevelt knew he was breaking new ground, and he deleted this sentence from his final speech.

What happened in the coal strike of 1902?

The coal strike of 1902. The strike of 1900 was the prelude to a larger drama--the great anthracite coal strike of 1902. Restless miners demanded more pay and shorter hours, while the mine operators complained that profits were low, and that the union destroyed discipline.

Why did Theodore Roosevelt intervene in the 1902 coal strike?

He wanted to assert the primacy of government over business. A month into the coal strike—as railroads and factories began to conserve their coal supplies—it looked as though the President might get involved.

How did Roosevelt handle the coal strike of 1902 quizlet?

What steps did Roosevelt take to solve the 1902 coal strike? Called the workers and managers out to DC and came to an agreement.

What was significant about the way the 1902 coal strike settled?

What was significant about the way the 1902 coal strike was settled ? That disputes could be settled in an orderly way with the help of experts such as those on the arbitration commission.

How was President Roosevelt's involvement in the 1902 coal strike different from previous government involvement?

The result was a federally appointed strike commission, which granted the workers a nine-hour day and a ten percent wage increase. Roosevelt's intervention was a landmark in American labor history--the first time the Government had judged a labor dispute without automatically taking management's side.

Which of the following occurred during the coal strike of 1902 quizlet?

Which of the following occurred during the coal strike of 1902? President Theodore Roosevelt won support for his forceful leadership against corporations and his work refereeing the dispute. Thousands of striking miners marched on Washington, starting a riot that lasted three days and endangered many politicians.

Which legislation helped the 1902 coal strike?

National Reclamation Act (Newlands Act) This Act set aside land for conservation and protecting water sources, building dams in desert areas and protecting mining rights.

Do you think Roosevelt's intervention was in favor of the strikers?

do you think Roosevelt's intervention was in favor of the strikers or of the mine operators? Roosevelt did not take sides with either. He called both sides to the white house to work the problem out. when the operators were unwilling to compromise, Roosevelt said the government would take over.

What is the Meat Inspection Act quizlet?

Meat Inspection Act of 1906. Passed in 1906 largely in reaction to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, the law set strict standards of cleanliness in the meatpacking industry.

Why did the Pennsylvania coal miners walk out of the mines?

In 1902 the Pennsylvania coal miners walked out of the mines in a wage dispute. Their struggle--and Teddy Roosevelt's role in it--was to mark a turning point in labor history. [Music in] The leader of the miners was willing to settle the strike by arbitration. But the head of the mine owners was definitely not.

Who took over the Pennsylvania mines?

Theodore Roosevelt determined to move. Enraged by what he called the stupid arrogance of the mine owners, he decided to take over the Pennsylvania mines in the name of the Government and start the coal rolling again. The mere rumor of a Government take-over of their property made the owners quickly agree to mediation.

What was the first time the government had judged a labor dispute without automatically taking management's side?

Roosevelt's intervention was a landmark in American labor history--the first time the Government had judged a labor dispute without automatically taking management's side. But once Roosevelt left office, as events would show, the rights of the working man were still far from secure. [Music out]

What was Baer's presumptuousness?

NARRATOR: Baer's presumptuousness only angered the miners. They determined not to go back to work until they had improved their conditions. By autumn the threat of a coal famine hung over the nation. New Yorkers lined up to buy coconut shells for fuel. Theodore Roosevelt determined to move.

What were the actions of Teddy Roosevelt in the coal strike of 1902?

However, the actions of Teddy Roosevelt in the Coal Strike of 1902 set a new tone in labor-government relations. This became a centerpiece of Roosevelt's progressive reputation in the coming years and showed that Republicans as well as Democrats could respond ...

What was the coal strike of 1902?

Teddy Roosevelt and the Coal Strike of 1902: A New Era in Labor and Government.

How many members were on the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission?

At the same time, the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission began its work. After much political wrangling this commission eventually ended up with seven members -- including one labor union man whose official role was "eminent sociologist". This commission interviewed 538 people in the coal industry, both workers and management, over the course of three months. They also extensively toured the Anthracite Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Their final verdict was a ten percent increase in wages and a ten percent decrease in working hours (from ten to nine per day).

What type of coal was used in the 1920s?

The coal-mining region of Eastern Pennsylvania rose to meet this demand. There are two primary types of coal -- bituminous and anthracite.

How many people died in the coal mine?

Coal was extracted from deep shafts and the process was labor-intensive. Hazards abounded. Two hundred people or more died in a single incident at Scofield Mine in Utah, in 1900. In the country as a whole, well over a thousand miners died each year, from 1900 all the way through the end of World War II.

How many miners died in the US in 1900?

In the country as a whole, well over a thousand miners died each year, from 1900 all the way through the end of World War II. Pay was also a serious issue. Labor shortages had been solved in with the use of immigrants from Europe. Hours were long. Operators of the mines were not disposed to compromise on such issues.

What happened to the mines in 1900?

In 1900 there had been an incident between the Pennsylvania miners and the mine operators, and the operators had been pressured to make concessions by the McKinley presidential campaign -- lest a strike cause bad press in his reelection contest.

Why did the coal miners' union meet with the coal miners?

President Theodore Roosevelt initially invited the coal miners' union representatives and the mine owners to meet to settle the Coal Strike of 1902 because the nation needed coal to provide heat in the coming winter. When the two sides refused to negotiate, he threatened to use soldiers to man the mines during the strike, ...

Why did coal miners form unions?

Because there was a lot of demand for coal mine workers, they were able to form a union; however, at that point in time, unions were a new phenomenon, and owners were often unwilling to recognize them, let alone bargain with them. However, the long working day, low wages and unsafe working conditions in the coal mines made it a dangerous occupation.

What was the result of the arbitration in the coal mines?

However, the long working day, low wages and unsafe working conditions in the coal mines made it a dangerous occupation. As a result of the arbitration, the miners received a 10 percent raise and a cut in the length of the work day, although the union did not receive official recognition.

What was the primary source of fuel for factories, running trains and heating homes?

At the start of the 20th century, coal was the primary source of fuel for operating factories, running trains and heating homes. Its demand was high, and if the coal strike had continued into the winter, a general panic would have been likely.

Did coal miners lose wages?

The coal miners knew they would lose wages while the soldiers were operating the mines, and the coal mine owners would also not make any money, and so they agreed to accept the results of an arbitration commission.

Who was the secretary of the United Mine Workers during the strike?

Roosevelt replied that he had no intention of doing anything just yet. He did, though, send his labor secretary, Carroll Wright, to speak with leaders of the United Mine Workers, which organized the strike, and executives at the coal companies and suggest a compromise.

Who was the leader of the coal executives in Washington?

The time had come for him to intervene directly. In early October, he invited the coal executives and the union leader, John Mitchell, to Washington in an attempt to mediate a settlement. Roosevelt appealed to the executives’ patriotism: “Meet the crying needs of the people.”.

Why did Knox tell Roosevelt to wait for the ruling on the Northern Securities case?

The reason, Knox told him, again, is that the railroads had shrewdly organized the coal companies’ cooperation, making prosecution difficult under the Sherman Act. He wanted to wait for the ruling on the Northern Securities case before proceeding. Not the answer Roosevelt wanted.

What was the significance of the May strike?

It was a confrontation between a past where power was concentrated and a future where it was shared , and it would define the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.

What did Inaction always vexed?

Inaction always vexed Roosevelt. He was almost ready to test how far his presidential power would go.

Who could prosecute Morgan's coal cartel?

Several people suggested how: just as Roosevelt and Knox had taken on Northern Securities, they could prosecute Morgan’s coal cartel for the same offense. (Morgan also controlled the most important railroads in Pennsylvania, which controlled the coal fields.)

Who suggested that Roosevelt do neither?

George Perkins , a friend of Roosevelt’s and partner of Morgan’s, suggested Roosevelt do neither. Taking action would be a fatal mistake, he said. He told Roosevelt he was going to give Knox the same advice. No need. Knox had already come to the same conclusion. Roosevelt replied that he had no intention of doing anything just yet.

Why did Roosevelt not release the report on the strike?

However, that report was not released because Roosevelt feared it would look like he favored organized labor, something most people of the day scorned.

What was the strike in Eastern Pennsylvania?

The coal strike of Eastern Pennsylvania had the miners requesting high wages and reduced hours of work. The strike were settled with the strikers getting a 10% pay raise and their work day reduced to 9 hours.

What role did Theodore Roosevelt play in the government?

Theodore Roosevelt saw an entirely new role' for government, that of reining in monopolistic businesses. He used the “bully pulpit” to win the American public to his side.

Who called off the strike?

John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America, agreed to call off the strike if a tribunal of presidential, union and company representatives met to deal with the key issue of union recognition. Mitchell also asked for an immediate small increase in the miners’ pay until the tribunal worked out a settlement. The operators, however, refused to deal with the union despite the president’s pleas.

What were the challenges FDR faced during his presidency?

FDR faced two great challenges during his presidency:. The Great Depression and WW2. Roosevelt attacked both with energy and vigor. The CCC, NRA (National Reconstruction Act), bank holidays, all sorts of things were tried to end the Depression. FDR used Fireside Chats to explain what he was doing, and how his actions would help people.

What was Alice's first friend?

Alice was a childhood friend of her first-cousin Eleanor, but Eleanor was serious-minded and a do-gooder (which T.R. liked ), while Alice wanted to have a good time (a trait T.R. disliked ). This pushed the two women apart in later years. (Also, too, Eleanor campaigning against Alice’s brother Theodore Jr. when Ted ran for Governor of New York in 1924 was no great help in nurturing warm feelings.)

Who was the only general to land in the first wave at Normandy?

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (actually Theodore III, but who’s counting?) was an opponent of Franklin’s from the get-go. He opposed FDR when he ran for President, and was always good for an anti-Franklin quote. (Ted Jr. had a lacklustre political career but a sterling one in the military. He was the only General to land in the first wave at Normandy; even General George Patton, who didn’t think much of Ted’s skills as a general officer, acknowledged that he was incredibly brave. Ted won the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.)

Was FDR an intelligent man?

So, yes, FDR was an extremely intelligent, accomplished, and highly knowledgeable man. What Justice Holmes was driving at was that FDR was not an intellectual, not a profound thinker, not someone even remotely interested in reading and mastering weighty philosophical tomes or in wrestling with difficult theoretical concepts.

Who wrote the biography of FDR?

Frances Perkins, who wrote an oddly perceptive early biography of FDR, said much the same thing of him at various points in her book, albeit in different ways. Perkins *was* a bit of an intellectual, and it was accordingly she whom FDR sought out after he had had a conversation with a dinner guest who had turned out to be an expert on Kierkegaard — FDR had never read anything by Kierkegaard, of course (not his cup of tea), but he had found the insights provided by Kierkegaard’s philosophy fascinating and wanted to discuss them, in an amateurish way, with somebody. It was all new and exciting to him. This is the sort of thing that Justice Holmes was talking about. A first class intellect would have known and understood Kierkegaard as a matter of course; but it took a first class temperament to get excited about him.

What did Roosevelt fear about coal shortages?

As the autumn began and negotiations between the owners and the miners were ineffective, President Theodore Roosevelt feared that a coal shortage would result in hardship to Americans during the winter.

Why did the coal strike start?

The Anthracite Coal Strike (May-October 1902) began after mine operators refused to meet with representatives of the United Mine Workers of America. Anthracite—or hard coal—was solid and rich in carbon, ideal for industrial and domestic use. The strike began in eastern Pennsylvania, where almost all anthracite coal was mined at the time, on May 12, 1902, after the railroad companies which owned the mines refused to meet with representatives of the union. Workers’ requests for better wages, a shorter work week, and recognition of their union had also been denied. Coal prices doubled as production dropped. As the autumn began and negotiations between the owners and the miners were ineffective, President Theodore Roosevelt feared that a coal shortage would result in hardship to Americans during the winter.

What was the cause of the Anthracite coal strike?

Anthracite—or hard coal—was solid and rich in carbon, ideal for industrial and domestic use.

How much did the anthracite coal commission increase the miners' pay?

The anthracite-coal commission recommended in March 1903 increasing miners' pay by ten percent (one-half of their demand), reducing the working day from ten to nine hours, and other concessions.

Who was the secretary of war for the railroads?

Secretary of War Elihu Root and banker J. P. Morgan convinced railroad leaders to abide by the findings of the presidentially appointed commission. The union also accepted the commission and, on October 20, voted to end the anthracite strike.

Who was the president of the railroad union?

At that meeting the union president, John Mitchell, outlined the union's case while the railroad bosses asserted the impossibility of compromise. The conference disbanded without resolving the crisis and Roosevelt formed a commission to investigate the strike.

Who was Henry Cabot Lodge?

With the conflict unresolved, Henry Cabot Lodge, a senior Republican and close friend of Theodore Roosevelt, warned the president of the potentially disastrous consequences for the party if the anthracite strike dragged into November, when elections were to be held.

An Anthracite Coal Strike in Eastern Pennsylvania

The Strike Drags ON, and Roosevelt Steps in

• At first, there was little reason to believe that this would be any more remarkable then the myriad other work stoppages of the era. The longer the miners remained off the job, the more the mines fell into disrepair. Yet most of the mine owners assumed that the strike would collapse if they maintained their own resolve. Hired guards of questionable...

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The Legacy of The Strike