The Downfall of Capitalism in Appalachia
Words: 1,087
ERH 303WX, Section 1
Date Due: 10 March 2017
Date Sub.: 10 March 2017
Research Essay 1
Help Received:
Peer editing, MAJ Iddings conference, cited references
Christian S. Nelms
As the different regions of America began to interconnect through trade during the 19th and 20th centuries, the Appalachia region became a part of the newly globalized economy, which would forever alter their previously known way of life. Appalachian communities were forced to adapt to capitalistic ideologies in order to reap the benefits of capitalism within the region (Williams 322). During the industrial revolution, Appalachia’s previous exposure to these capitalistic ideologies made for the seamlessly integration of commercial industries within the region, specifically the coal industry. Although previous interactions between Appalachian communities and the outside world were mutually beneficial, coal operators had a vested interest in exploiting the labor of the Appalachian people to maximize capital of the respective companies (Tabler, Banks). These industries became so powerful that they monopolized entire communities, which eventually lead to various armed conflicts between coal operators and Appalachian miners. The general responses to these conflicts placed the blame on the Appalachian miners for the events, with outsiders viewing their actions as a rebellion against capitalism. This paper will argue that the portrayal of Appalachian people as rebels and resistant to change can be traced back to the rise of capitalism within the region.
Appalachia was first introduced to the globalized economy with the creation of trade routes that passed through the region. One of the earliest known exports to travel through Appalachia was that of cattle, and “by the 1780’s was a major center for cattle raising and feeding for export to eastern markets” (Lewis 27). As a way to benefit from this change, many Appalachians set up rest stops for the travelling herdsman, and were able to make significant money through this initiative (Lewis 28). With the days of self-sufficiency and isolation behind them, Appalachians found themselves interdependent with the rest of the economy, thus forcing them to change the ways in which they structured their communities.
Increasingly capitalistic interactions between the Appalachian region and outsiders fostered necessary political and social changes within Appalachian communities to ensure that both parties benefitted from monetary transactions. One way that Appalachian communities accomplished this goal was with the development of a “small but influential middle class of doctors, lawyers, merchants, and politicians …who served as mediators with, the broader market economy” (Lewis 28). These individuals became known as the “commercial elite”, serving as a liaison between Appalachian communities and travelling shepherds and tradesmen (Lewis 28). In a broader sense, Appalachian communities worked toward emulating a “modern” way of thinking, which promoted capitalism and its values (Williams 321). The modern thought process pictured “a world ordered by advanced industrial capitalism and the social welfare state” (Williams 321). This ideology became the proper outlook on the future, and that those who did not adapt were seen as backwards and dysfunctional (Williams 322). The gradual flow of capitalistic ideologies within Appalachia communities allowed for the smooth integration of industrial companies throughout the entire region.
During the peak of the industrial revolution, one of the ways that the coal industry exploited the labor of its’ workers was through the implementation of scrip currency. As a way to maximize profit and keep cash flow within the organization, coal companies began to pay their employees with a currency known as “scrip”, which could only be used at stores owned by the company (Tabler). Through this mechanism, coal industries soon had trapped their workers into the coal-mining business despite its hazardous working conditions and extremely low wages (Tabler). Although this method was widely practiced because it promoted capitalistic values, it did not bode well with the Appalachian workforce. With nowhere else to turn, many workers decided to join workers unions in an effort to reverse these effects, which resulted in mass strikes and revolts that received national attention (Tabler, Andrews, Banks).
The national reception that came from the disputes between miners’ unions and coal companies vilified the miner population, which helped to shape perceptions about the Appalachian community as rebellious and intolerant to change. One of the most significant conflicts between miners and coal operators was the Battle of Blair Mountain, which ended with approximately 100 deaths between both sides (Andrews). On August 24th, 1921, thousands of disgruntled coal miners, dressed in uniform red bandanas around their necks, marched to Blair Mountain and engaged in armed conflict with the county police. After days of fighting, then-President Warren G. Harding felt the need to summon the National Guard to resolve the situation (Andrews). Since this conflict resulted in federal intervention, outsiders to the situation assumed that the coal miners were in the wrong, resulting in depictions of miners as rowdy and rebellious “red necks” desperately trying to cling to the their previously known ways of life (Banks 215). These negative depictions of Appalachians are still prevalent today, and can be seen in works such as Next of Kin and The Kentucky Cycle (Banks 215).
In conclusion, the perception of Appalachians as rebels and resistant to change can be traced back to the rise of capitalism within the region. Appalachian people were first exposed to capitalistic ventures and ideologies through the development of trade routes, and subsequently shifted the social and political cultures of communities to emulate the capitalist, “modern” way of thinking (Williams 321). Commercial industries soon settled in Appalachian communities, which sought to exploit Appalachian labor and maximize profits through methods such as the implementation scrip currency (Tabler). Tensions between the miners and coal operators reached a point where workers unions were formed, and serious armed conflicts followed such as the Battle of Blair Mountain. The reception of the events that transpired between the industrial operators and coal miners antagonized the latter, which lead to the aforementioned depictions the Appalachian community as a whole.
Sources:
1.) Williams, John Alexander. Appalachia: A History. The University of North Carolina Press, 2002.
2.) Lewis, Ronald L. Back Talk from Appalachia: Confronting Stereotypes. The University of Kentucky Press, 1999.
3.) Shelby, Anne. Back Talk From Appalachia: Confronting Stereotypes. University of Kentucky Press, 1999.
4.) “Pros and Cons of Capitalism.” Economics Help, www.economicshelp.org/blog/5002/economics/pros-and-cons-of-capitalism/.
5.) Eller, Ronald D. Appalachian Journal. 1983.
6.) Andrews, Evan. “History in the Headlines.” History Channel, www.history.com/news/americas-largest-labor-uprising-the-battle-of-blair-mountain.
7.) Tabler, Dave. “Company Store Scrip.” Appalachian History, www.appalachianhistory.net/2015/09/company-store-scrip.html.
8.) Banks, Alan. Back Talk from Appalachia: Confronting Stereotypes. The University of Kentucky Press, 1999.