11
COXEY'S ARMY MARCHES TO WASHINGTON
The movement has attracted the attention of the country as nothing else in the way
of agitation has ever done, and as nothing else without violence ever could have done.
of agitation has ever done, and as nothing else without violence ever could have done.
— Jacob S. Coxey, quoted in the Washington Post, April 21, 1894
Mention the word “depression” and typically, you'll evoke images of 1930s bread lines and families
escaping the Dust Bowl. However, during the nineteenth century, American workers endured many
depressions. In the 1870s, for example, things got so bad that 90,000 workers had to sleep in police
stations throughout New York City. Another economic crisis hit in 1893 and that one lasted for half
a decade. Four million workers lost their jobs and almost one in five workers was jobless. Out of this
dire situation grew Coxey's Army.
Jacob Sechler Coxey (1854-1951), a populist leader in Massillon, Ohio, proposed that Congress
increase the amount of legal tender in circulation (Coxey went as far as naming his son “Legal
Tender”). Then, pre-dating FDR's New Deal by 40 years, Coxey wanted that currency spent on
public works… in the name of creating jobs for the unemployed.
To help bring this plan to fruition, Coxey, along with Carl Browne of California, hatched the idea
of a “living petition.” An army of unemployed men would descend upon the nation's capital and
shed light on the problems of the working class.
Dubbing their army the “Commonweal of Christ,” Coxey, Browne and some 100 men left Massillon
escaping the Dust Bowl. However, during the nineteenth century, American workers endured many
depressions. In the 1870s, for example, things got so bad that 90,000 workers had to sleep in police
stations throughout New York City. Another economic crisis hit in 1893 and that one lasted for half
a decade. Four million workers lost their jobs and almost one in five workers was jobless. Out of this
dire situation grew Coxey's Army.
Jacob Sechler Coxey (1854-1951), a populist leader in Massillon, Ohio, proposed that Congress
increase the amount of legal tender in circulation (Coxey went as far as naming his son “Legal
Tender”). Then, pre-dating FDR's New Deal by 40 years, Coxey wanted that currency spent on
public works… in the name of creating jobs for the unemployed.
To help bring this plan to fruition, Coxey, along with Carl Browne of California, hatched the idea
of a “living petition.” An army of unemployed men would descend upon the nation's capital and
shed light on the problems of the working class.
Dubbing their army the “Commonweal of Christ,” Coxey, Browne and some 100 men left Massillon
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