Episodes of Class War in United States History

[bayano]

I was just wondering if anyone knows a good listing of the more serious class war conflicts in US history, from Nat Turner and other maroon rebellions, to Shays' Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion, the battle of the Viaduct, Haymarket.

If you cut US history into pre-Civil War, between Civil War and WWII, and post-WWII, each period has a great history of turbulent conflicts, and this is the history of this country that should be preserved. Of course I think any history requires inclusion as integral issues surrounding gender, race and identity, women's struggles and Black/Indigenous struggles, but i remember in college a prof once mentioned that if class was discussed in this country as much as race, we would have had a revolution by now.

So, what is your favorite episode of class war in US history, what is one you want to know more about, what are some youd like to educate the rest of us on?

I guess I am mostly thinking about pre-Civil War at this exact moment, but gimme anything youve got.

[Everyday Anarchy]

One might think of the Bonus Army as a bit of class conflict. Granted, it wasn't much of a rebellion, but it showed Americans that the interests of the working class are not the same as the bourgeois (a common myth in America).

[violencia.Proletariat]

Homestead Strike
Ludlow Massacre
Great Rail Strike of 1877

[YSR]

Echoing Homestead.
Haymarket and the run-up is absolutely fascinating.
Also, I think the Seattle General Strike of 1919 is amazing and inspirational. When I feel disspirited with how our movement is doing, I think about this a little bit.

[IronColumn]

Watts 1965 and all the other ghetto rebellions are big class struggles.

I feel you could file the Rodney King riots under there too.

[Martin Blank]

By far, the Great Strike and St. Louis Commune of 1877 are my favorites. But here are some others.

The strike wave of 1946-47.
The sit-down movement of 1936-39.
The Minneapolis, Toledo and San Francisco strikes of 1934.
The Western Federation of Miners strikes of the early 20th century.
The Pullmann railroad strike of the 1890s.

The Detroit Rebellion of 1967, when the Michigan National Guard and 101st Airborne were held at bey for a week, is on my favorite list for working people's uprisings too.

Miles

[rebelworker]

I think a peoples history of the US by Howard Zinn is probably, from what Ive been told of it, the best overview of class history.

Possibly my favority somewhat more contemporary history is "Detroit I Do mind Dying" on the League of Revolutionary Black Workers in the late 60's early 70's.
The Film they made "Finally Got the News..." Is awsome. Detroit's Auto Plant were probably the hottest spot in the US in Many ways(perhaps outside of Oakland).

The Molly maguires were fucking cool(Up the Irish), But the Whole area of coal mining in west Virginia is something to look at too. The Films "Matewan" about the 30's(fictional but based on fact) is really good, and the documentary "Harlan County USA"(about the bloody general strike of 70') is up there with the detroit film as the best films about class struggle in North America.

Sorry I dont read that much so Ive got more film references than books but there you go. Easy Access!

[which doctor]

Benton Harbor, 2003.

If you don't know about it, look it up.

[Eoin Dubh]

The Ludlow Massacre : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_massacre

Alexander Berkman selflessly putting lead into Henry Clay Frick as payback for the Homestead steel strike : http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senat.../homestead.html (http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/7672/homestead.html)

The Centralia Massacre and lynching of an IWW member : http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5605

The Triangle shirtwaist Fire of 1911 : http://www.csun.edu/~ghy7463/mw2.html


:hammer:

[EusebioScrib]

St. Louis Commune of 1877

CL, I've never heard of this. I'm interested. Do you have any links which discuss it etc?

[Janus]

A large part of the late 19th century was characterized by labor disputes such as the Pullman Strike and Homestead Strike


from Nat Turner
That would simply be a slave rebellion rather than true class warfare.

[Amusing Scrotum]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2006, 09:50 PM

St. Louis Commune of 1877

CL, I've never heard of this. I'm interested. Do you have any links which discuss it etc?

Previous thread on this....complete with links. (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=46877&hl=louis)

[bayano]

wait, whats the difference between a slave rebellion and class war? not to get sidetracked (and i had already intended to start a thread about classic slave rebellions in history), but slavery is a class system, and revolt by the producer classes (i.e. the slaves) is class war, plain and simple. some of the other rebellions mentioned were peasant/farmer revolts and rebellions, but those are still class wars whether it was farm laborers, sharecroppers/pseudo-serfs, or landed farmers against the big aristocracy. a slave rebellion is a class war, as much as any workers revolt against their boss.

[Spartacist]

You know, one amazing fact about the Southern Confederacy is that, during the Civil War, there was not a single slave revolt. Even though the only people left down south were the elderly, children and women, the slaves did not rise up. Any one care to venture why, because I don't know.

[Brekisonphilous]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 04:09 PM
You know, one amazing fact about the Southern Confederacy is that, during the Civil War, there was not a single slave revolt. Even though the only people left down south were the elderly, children and women, the slaves did not rise up. Any one care to venture why, because I don't know.
This is a very good question, I would like to find out more insight on this.
My guess would be their lack of education and literacy. No one was there to get them pumped up to rebel and end it all.

[IronColumn]

They probably felt that no matter who won they would still get screwed.

[bayano]

well, i dont know of any slave revolts during the civil war, but it is important to realize a few things. firstly, maroonage/'desertion'/escapes never ended til slavery did, nor did other quieter forms of resistance. the other most important thing to remember is that we will never know the about many or perhaps most slave revolts, since unsuccessful ones remained quiet for fear by the master that it might be attempted again.

[M-Mann]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 11:34 PM
They probably felt that no matter who won they would still get screwed.
Hahahaha, so true.

[Eoin Dubh]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 04:09 PM
You know, one amazing fact about the Southern Confederacy is that, during the Civil War, there was not a single slave revolt. Even though the only people left down south were the elderly, children and women, the slaves did not rise up. Any one care to venture why, because I don't know.
At first I assumed the Emancipation Proclamation may have had something to do with this but it was declared in 1863, two years after the start of the civil war and the proclamation did not free the slaves in the neutral states.

I began web surfing for an answer and found that many blacks were apart of the southern war effort!? :blink: wtf?

http://www.rebelgray.com/BLACKREBS.htm
http://www.scvcamp469-nbf.com/theblackconfederatesoldier.htm

The following is from this site : http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/blackcs.htm :
Black Confederates? Why haven’t we heard more about them? National Park Service historian, Ed Bearrs, stated, “I don’t want to call it a conspiracy to ignore the role of Blacks both above and below the Mason-Dixon line, but it was definitely a tendency that began around 1910” Historian, Erwin L. Jordan, Jr., calls it a “cover-up” which started back in 1865. He writes, “During my research, I came across instances where Black men stated they were soldiers, but you can plainly see where ‘soldier’ is crossed out and ‘body servant’ inserted, or ‘teamster’ on pension applications.” Another black historian, Roland Young, says he is not surprised that blacks fought. He explains that “…some, if not most, Black southerners would support their country” and that by doing so they were “demonstrating it’s possible to hate the system of slavery and love one’s country.” This is the very same reaction that most African Americans showed during the American Revolution, where they fought for the colonies, even though the British offered them freedom if they fought for them.
----------------------
This is really rather mindbending. :huh:

[bayano]

alright, see, most southern Blacks opposed the confederacy. read what i said, just cuz theres no nat turner-styler revolt during the war doesnt mean there wasnt resistance. and among the claims of Black confederates (which did exist, just as there were gay and jewish nazis), there were also Black slaves forced into fighting in suicide missions.

[praxis1966]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 04:45 PM
well, i dont know of any slave revolts during the civil war
The weren't actually during the Civil War, but John Brown and the Harper's Ferry raids are worth studying. Also, I'm having trouble locating my copy of A People's History of the US, but there were several strikes where women and girls struck from their jobs at textile plants in the Northeast.

I forget what they were called, but I remember them being unique because at they were simultaneously striking out against sexism and classism. It was as such because they were, at first at least, scorned and not supported by the male dominated labor unions of the day. If I'm not mistaken, these strikes pre-dated the Civil War. Oh, and there's always Sojourner Truth to that end...


Delivered 1851
Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.

Quite possibly one of the most poignant and simultaneously hard-hitting speeches I've ever heard.