Molly Maguires Executed (1877) On this day in 1877, ten members of the Molly Maguires, a secretive Irish-American society associated with militant labor struggle, were executed in Pennsylvania on...
Molly Maguires Executed (1877)
Thu Jun 21, 1877
Image: A sketch depicting the public execution of the Molly Maguires, unknown author.
On this day in 1877, ten members of the Molly Maguires, a secretive Irish-American society associated with militant labor struggle, were executed in Pennsylvania on the basis of dubious evidence from an undercover Pinkerton agent.
After the Great Panic of 1873, Pennsylvania mine owners imposed a new contract on the workforce which lowered pay rates by 10-20%. This led to the Long Strike of 1875, which lasted seven months and compelled the governor order in troops to the region.
When the Long Strike failed, some Irish-American miners turned to tactics that had been employed in Ireland in the late 17th and 18th centuries, using oath bound societies, anonymous threats and in some cases violent retribution on those deemed hostile to their community. The Molly Maguires emerged from this historical backdrop.
In 1876-77, twenty suspected Molly Maguires were convicted of murder and other crimes on the basis of dubious evidence (mostly testimony from notorious Pinkerton Agent James McParland).
On June 21st, 1877, six of the convicted men were hanged in the prison at Pottsville, and four at Mauch Chunk, Carbon County (modern day Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania). American labor historian Philip Foner concluded that the men were likely framed due to their labor activism.
- Date: 1877-06-21
- Learn More: www.theirishstory.com, en.wikipedia.org.
- Tags: #Labor.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org