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There Was No Lulow Massacre Essay

716 Words3 Pages

In 1913, one of the biggest clashes between capital and labor occurred under a Rockefeller-owned company. When the coalminers realized that they were being taken advantage of through the horrid working conditions and unfair wages, they organized a strike. Instead of a peaceful strike ending with improved conditions, it turned very deadly. Although John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was never on sight of what was later named the Ludlow Massacre, he was labeled according to the mass murder and violence that happened on his camp under his authority. Many months passed between the call to go on strike in September and when the first shot was fired in April. During these months, Rockefeller’s stance on the strike can be summed up in his statement to the …show more content…

He claims that “there was no Ludlow Massacre” because it was just a “desperate fight for life by two small squads of militia against the entire tent company” (PBS). Rockefeller denies that the women and children being murdered were at the hands of the state and believes that the operators had no responsibility in any deaths. Rockefeller most likely changed his position on the strike to protect his image to the public. He saw that he was being labeled as a murderer so he created a cover story to protect his business and himself. Even though Rockefeller failed to admit to his fault in the massacre, it seems that it still greatly affected him. Rockefeller’s guilt led him to try and improve his workers’ conditions and continue “growing in grace” himself and his business …show more content…

Stewart recognized the sufferings and restrictions of the mineworkers. He saw that although the men were furnished with a place to live, stores, churches, and schools, it was all controlled and fixed by the employer. The language barriers that often separated the men had very little effect on their ability to discuss the wrongdoings within the industry because they were prohibited from doing so. Stewart’s statement that “men have rebelled grows out of the fact that they are men” means that even though the men were being provided with every necessity, they were banned from thinking and speaking freely, one of the chief freedoms in America (PBS). Stewart’s position on the strike appropriately reflects the wrongfulness of employers expecting the coalminers to strictly work their lives away and not give any thought to their unfair working conditions and

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