Coxey's Army

Coxey commonweal army brightwood leaving

Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Bladensburg, Maryland 021

Coxey's army, 1914 LCCN89707024

JACOB 'GENERAL' MONTGOMERY holding book entitled, "Coxey HIS OWN STORY" in 1914 - LCCN2016865547 (cropped)

Coxey's Army was a protest march by unemployed workers from the United States, led by Ohio businessman Jacob Coxey. They marched on Washington, D.C. in 1894, during a severe economic depression known as the Panic of 1893. Coxey's Army was significant as one of the first major protests of its kind in the United States, and it brought national attention to the issues of unemployment and the need for a public works program to create jobs.

Background

The Panic of 1893 was one of the worst economic depressions in United States history. It was marked by a significant decline in the national economy, widespread business failures, and high unemployment. In response to the crisis, Jacob Coxey proposed a solution to create jobs and stimulate the economy through a public works program. This program would be funded by the federal government, and it aimed to provide employment for the unemployed by building roads and other public facilities.

The March

In 1894, Coxey and his followers, who were collectively known as Coxey's Army, began their march to Washington, D.C., to present their demands to the United States Congress. The group consisted of about 100 men when it departed from Massillon, Ohio, on Easter Sunday, 1894, but it grew in number as it progressed towards the capital. Despite the peaceful nature of the march, the protestors were met with skepticism and hostility in many of the towns they passed through.

Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., Coxey's Army attempted to march to the Capitol Building to present their demands. However, Coxey and other leaders were arrested for walking on the grass of the Capitol grounds, and the march failed to achieve its immediate objectives. Despite this, the march succeeded in bringing national attention to the plight of the unemployed and the need for government intervention in the economy.

Impact and Legacy

Although Coxey's Army did not succeed in its immediate goals, the march had a lasting impact on American society and politics. It highlighted the growing economic disparity and the need for government action to address unemployment and economic downturns. The march is considered a precursor to later social and economic reforms in the United States, including the New Deal programs of the 1930s.

Coxey himself continued to be involved in politics, advocating for economic reforms and running for public office on several occasions. The legacy of Coxey's Army is remembered as an early example of mass political activism and the power of peaceful protest to effect change.

See Also

• Panic of 1893
• New Deal
• Public works
• Unemployment in the United States