The Mine Wars | American Experience | PBS

A fascinating history of events in the West Virginia coal mining country during the period1912 - 1921(some call it a sceond civil war). The film tells the story of Mary "Mother" Jones leading the fight for the miners demand for better pay, better work conditions, the ending the practice of forcing miners to buy from company-owned stores, and recognition of the United Mine Workers (UMW). On September 1, 1912, when about 6,000 unionized miners from across the Kanawha River crossed over the river and declared their intent to kill the mine guards and destroy the company operations but the governor declared martial law. The end of the "wars" came in 1921 when 10,000 miners confronted 3,000 lawmen and strikebreakers in Logan County.