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The Battle Against Convict Labor In The Tennessee Coalfields 1871-1896: Fred

Fernando Pessoa

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Published in A New South Rebellion: The Battle Against Convict Labor In The Tennessee Coalfields 1871 1896 (Fred W Morrison In Southern Studies)

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Coal Miners With Children And Mules In Tennessee, 1903 A New South Rebellion: The Battle Against Convict Labor In The Tennessee Coalfields 1871 1896 (Fred W Morrison In Southern Studies)

A New South Rebellion: The Battle against Convict Labor in the Tennessee Coalfields 1871 1896 (Fred W Morrison in Southern Studies)

A New South Rebellion: The Battle against Convict Labor in the Tennessee Coalfields, 1871-1896 (Fred W. Morrison Series in Southern Studies)

by Karin A. Shapiro

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The use of convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields was a controversial issue in the late 19th century. Coal companies argued that convict labor was necessary to keep costs down, while opponents argued that it was a form of slavery and that it competed with free labor. The battle against convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields was a long and difficult one, but it was ultimately successful.

The Early Years

The use of convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields began in the early 1870s. Coal companies were struggling to find enough workers, and they turned to the state prison system for help. The state was willing to lease convicts to the coal companies for a fee, and the companies were happy to take advantage of the cheap labor.

The use of convict labor quickly became widespread in the Tennessee coalfields. By the late 1870s, there were over 1,000 convicts working in the mines. The convicts were forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions, and they were often beaten and abused.

The use of convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields sparked outrage among many people. Opponents of convict labor argued that it was a form of slavery, and that it competed with free labor. They also argued that the use of convict labor was cruel and inhumane.

The Rise of the Convict Labor Movement

In the late 1870s, a movement began to grow to abolish convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields. The movement was led by a group of labor activists and reformers, including Fred. Fred was a former convict who had been forced to work in the coal mines. He had firsthand experience of the horrors of convict labor, and he was determined to end it.

The Convict Labor Movement quickly gained support from a wide range of people, including miners, farmers, and businessmen. The movement organized rallies and protests, and it lobbied the state legislature to pass laws to abolish convict labor.

The Battle in the Legislature

The battle to abolish convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields was fought in the state legislature. The coal companies had powerful lobbyists, and they were determined to keep convict labor legal. The Convict Labor Movement had to fight hard to overcome the opposition of the coal companies.

In 1891, the Convict Labor Movement finally succeeded in passing a law to abolish convict labor in the Tennessee coalfields. The law was a major victory for the movement, and it marked the end of a long and difficult struggle.

The Legacy of the Convict Labor Movement

The Convict Labor Movement was a successful example of how grassroots activism can bring about change. The movement's victory helped to improve the lives of thousands of convicts, and it also helped to strengthen the labor movement in the United States.

The legacy of the Convict Labor Movement is still felt today. The movement's victory helped to set a precedent for the abolition of convict labor in other states. The movement also helped to raise awareness of the issue of prison labor, and it contributed to the development of modern labor laws.

The battle against convict labor

A New South Rebellion: The Battle against Convict Labor in the Tennessee Coalfields, 1871-1896 (Fred W. Morrison Series in Southern Studies)

by Karin A. Shapiro

5 out of 5