Get Your Rifles - Battle of Blair Mountain - US History - Part 2 - Extra History

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McDowell County, West Virginia. August 1st, 1921.
15 months after the Matewan Massacre, Sid Hatfield was gunned down in front of a courthouse. The Baldwin Felts agents had gotten their revenge and planted guns on the dead. The miner's anger boiled over and they'd finally had enough. They got their rifles and headed to Blair Mountain. Where Sheriff Chafin, Governor Morgan, Logan County officials, and Military Leader General Harry Bandholtz waited for their charge.

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♪ Outro Music: "Monopolies" by Tiffany Roman
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[OGEdger]

If unions were ineffective, corporations wouldn't be trying to prevent them.

[michaelgranholm]

I love that one wife beat an assassin with an umbrella.

[DavidJamesHenry]

It is we who plowed the prairies, built the cities where they trade
Built the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid
Now we stand outcast and starving 'midst the wonders we have made
But the union makes us strong!

[brianhall]

It just goes to show why a) Corporations need to be scrutinized and held in check, b) Corporate money needs to stay out of politics, and c) unions are important. People really need to learn from history.

[ItsmeInternetStranger]

A detail that's easy to overlook given Sid Hatfield's distinguished jawline is the fact that the man was at the oldest, 30 at the time of his death, though some sources say 28.

[alexbanner]

Rest in peace to the miners. Their country betrayed them.

[stankmcdankton]

" They say in Harlan County
There are no neutrals there.
You'll either be a union man
Or a thug for J. H. Blair.

Which side are you on boys?
Which side are you on? "

[jimmarch]

Sid Hatfield was dragged to court on a completely bogus case knowing that he would be disarmed by the rules of the courthouse. It was a setup from the beginning.

If you go to court in Washington state or Arizona while armed, you have to declare your weapons before you get to the metal detectors. They give you a key to one of the lock boxes right there at the door where you can stash your personal artillery or whatever. I believe Nevada does the same but I'm not sure.

The reason for these laws is because Hatfield is not the only person to have ever been hunted at the steps to a courthouse.

[Monkey_SK]

As a non American, it is videos like this that give you an insight into how the US has such a complicated history around government and law enforcement. Even gun control which would seem to be left over from the defence against the British. Seems to link into periods like this far more, where people need to protect themselves against their state leaders and government, just to get their basic rights.

[soulnestahn]

You know, I used to think "America's war on the poor" was a metaphor.

[plackt]

A very similar series of events played out in the gold mining town of Waihi, New Zealand in 1912. Fortunately there wasn’t nearly as much bloodshed, probably being a smaller country and population, but 10% of the country’s police force was sent to break the strike.

[CollinMcLean]

Holy crap how is this not talked about more in school?! It's like when I found out about the coup in Wilmington in my own state of North Carolina, how did we ever gloss over that?

[hgkghkhgkgh]

Fun Fact: General Bandholtz has a statue in Budapest, Hungary for preventing the Romanian military authorities from removing artefacts from the Hungarian National Museum.

[will_from_pa]

Remember, if the bosses had their way, you'd be chained to your workstation 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It's only because of people like the miners who fought for labor rights that we have any rights.

[kennyroberts]

"Don't scab for the bosses, Don't listen to their lies! Us poor folk haven't got a chance, unless we organize! WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?!"

[cableguygitrdone]

If you guys do another series about coal strikes, I'd like to see one about the 1989 Pittston strike where the company unsuccessfully tried to take away benefits from the miners. This series inspired me to research the 89 strike and ask my mom about stories she had since she took part.

[U.F.R.G]

I watched the first part today and I couldn't wait for the next part but I didnat expect it to be today



I knew about this very and important event in US worker history and ime glad you guys are giving it the attention it deserves

[drakewalker]

Rest in peace, you glorious men. Coming from a mining family, stories like Blair Mountain really speak to me. Thank you, EC.

[scadoodlemusic]

I’m so happy to see y’all doing this series. As a southerner who has long watched an oppressed working class struggle here and being descended from coal miners in Tennessee it’s cool seeing someone talk about this stuff

[varnull]

Thanks for making this video. We have brave men and women like the miners who fought at Blair Mountain to thank for our rights, moreso than any war. Solidarity forever.