The miners wars – commonly referred to as the West Virginia Coal Wars (1912–1921), started as a conflict between coal firms and miners. The coal industry was essentially the state’s sole source of work, and massive corporations built homes, general stores, schools, churches, and recreational facilities in the remote towns near the mines. For miners, the system resembled something like feudalism. Sanitary and living conditions in the company houses were abysmal, wages were low, and state politicians supported wealthy coal company owners rather than miners.
