What impact did the Anthracite Coal Strike have on the role of the federal government?

The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 marked a significant shift in the role of the federal government regarding labor disputes. During this strike, which involved miners seeking better wages and working conditions, President Theodore Roosevelt took an unprecedented step by intervening in the conflict. Instead of siding exclusively with the business owners, Roosevelt facilitated negotiations between the miners and the coal operators. This demonstrated a growing recognition of the need for government involvement in resolving labor issues, particularly those that had the potential to disrupt essential services and the economy, such as the supply of coal for heating.

This intervention was a departure from historical patterns where the government typically favored business interests over labor rights. Roosevelt's actions signaled a willingness to address the concerns of workers and acknowledged the importance of labor in the overall economic framework of the nation. As a result, this event set a precedent for future government involvement in labor disputes, where federal authorities would assume a mediating role, thus changing the dynamics of labor relations in the United States.