American Economic Development

Dr. Ebert

Fall 2021

American Economic Development

Questions for Colorado’s Coal Miner’s Strike by Howard Zinn

Name:__________________ Class Time:________________

Read chapter one, the “Colorado’ Coal Miner’s Strike,” from Three Strikes, Howard Zinn’s book on the history of strikes and labor struggles. The chapter is posted readings and in the Heilbroner Ch. 10 folder.

Answer the questions below. Please write about ½ a page per question (questions b - e), for a total of 1 ½ pages. Type and double space your answers.

a. Where did the Colorado Coal miner’s strike take place and who owned the mine?

b. What did the miners want and why did they decide to go on strike? What role did unions, if any, play in the workers’ decision to go on strike?

c. What was the government’s response to the strike? Did the federal and state governments support the miners. Explain and comment on their role and why they responded the way they did.

d. How did the strike end? Did the miners get their demands met? Explain and include by commenting on the situation of the miners after the strike.

e. Do you think class divisions today run as contentious as they did around the time of the miner’s strike? Do some research online and find a magazine or newspaper article (from the economist, CNN.com, NYtimes, etc.) that supports your answer. Be sure to cite the article for full credit.