User:Cool3/Blair Mountain

The Battle of Blair Mountain was an armed conflict fought on and around Blair Mountain in Logan County, West Virginia from August 25 to September 2, 1921. It was the largest armed labor uprising in American history, and the largest insurrection since the American Civil War. The battle began when coal miners and members of the United Mine Workers union attempted to march through Logan County and met with a citizen army organized by sheriff Don Chafin. The conflict was military inconsequential and ended when soldiers from the United States Army commanded by Harry Hill Bandholtz intervened and disarmed the miners.

The battle drew increased attention to the working conditions of West Virginia coal miners, and helped to set in motion a number of reforms adopted in the 1930s. The battle also became an important part of the history and folklore of the region, and the subject of works of fiction, including Denise Giardina's novel Storming Heaven.

Background
The underlying cause of the Battle of Blair Mountain was the conflict between miners and mine operators over unionization. Conflicts over unionization led to frequent strikes in West Virginia, many of which turned violent erupting into so-called mine wars, such as the West Virginia Mine War of 1912-1913. Despite years of effort, and many violent clashes, the coal fields of southern West Virginia remained  On January 30, 1920, John L. Lewis, the president of the United Mine Workers, announced a new effort