Labor Goes to War

A new group becomes militant.

May 15, 1893. The Western Federation of Miners (WFM) is formed. It’s in direct response to a labor action in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho the year before in which five strikers are shot to death and martial law is declared.

The WFM becomes increasingly militant and violent over the next 20 years–even assassinating its enemies. It leads strikes in Colorado, Idaho, Michigan and other places. It begins to lose some influence around 1914.