Background

 According to Knebel (1997), Canada was a new time for Mary.  In Canada she attended public school in Toronto, Ontario and graduated when she was seventeen. She studied at Toronto Normal School from 1858-1859 to become a schoolteacher. After graduation she worked as a schoolteacher and dressmaker in Michigan  (Ockerbloom).

 In 1861 she fell in love and married George Jones.  According to Knebel, Mary and George were perfect matches. George was an ironworker and active member of the Iron Molders' Union.   Similar to her father George held a left-wing political view.  Together Mary and George moved to Memphis Tennessee, and had one son, and three daughters.   Six years after they were married a yellow fever epidemic swept over Memphis.  George and his children were all affected by this deadly epidemic.  Since everyone she loved had past away due to the yellow fever Mary decided to pack up her belongings and move to Chicago (Knebel 1997).  In Chicago she opened a dress shop.  Here she started her own business making dresses, and altering them.  Then in 1871 the great Chicago Fire destroyed both her home and her business (Hawse).

The Knights of Labor

In keeping with the Knights of Labor, Dale Fetherling believed they were idealists, and that they held many of the same believes as her husband did.  Mary herself also discovered that she felt the same way.  According to Mara Lou Hawse, many people believed that Mary's interest in labor began when she was living in Chicago and sewed for wealthy Chicago families.  Here is where she observed the "blatant economic and social inequalities that existed. (Hawse)"

According to Fetherling the start for Mary the Knights of labor was just the beginning. From then on she became known as one of the most dangerous women in America.  First in 1877, she helped in the Pittsburgh railway strike.  Following the railroad strike in 1890 she was involved in the struggles of coal miners. She established The United Mine Workers of America.  The United Mine Workers of America were created out of various local unions that already existed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Indiana.  The UMW was the nations first and most successful industrial nation.  Many local miners were very proud to be active members of the national union. This event was very important in shaping the rest of her life (Fetherling).

The creation of the UMW was not her first and last stop.  Following the formation of the UMA, Mother Jones continued with her fights.  According to Knebel, In 1903 Mary Harris Jones led hundreds of children down Independence Square in Philadelphia.  Her goal was to bring child labor to attention.  The marching of children, called "little gray ghost," were children who since the age of six had worked at the mill.  Many of these children where crippled, had missing fingers, or were injured in other frightful ways.  This demonstration left an impression on the citizens of Philadelphia.  Mary then stopped to speak and declared a moving message, "Stop sacrificing children upon the alter of profit (Knebel)."

Following the demonstration against child labor Mary became a member of the Socialist Party of America.  At this time she participated in strikes and organized drives for many unions.  Though at this time her main goal was to raise funds for the Mexican revolutionist in the United States who were being arrested and deported (Knebel).
 According to Mara Lou Hawse, after serving on the Socialist Party of America Mary left in 1911.  During this time she lead the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike, in West Virginia.  Using previous experiences she used the women and children of the miners to enhance the possible outcomes, and gain sympathy.

Then in 1913 Mary lead a protest of miner's children through the streets of Charleston, West Virginia.  Here she lead a protest about working conditions, and was arrested.  She was convicted by a military court of conspiring to commit murder and was sentenced to twenty years of prison.  The U.S. Senate ordered a committee to investigate conditions in West Virginia due to all the chaos of her trial, and conviction. Before she was sent to jail newly elected governor Hatfield freed her (McHenry 1995).
According to Robert McHenry (1995), the threat of almost being sent to jail did not stop Mother Jones.  She continued to actively participate in many union strikes. She participated in strikes of garment workers and streetcar workers in New York, and the strike of steel workers in Pittsburgh.  She also attended the Pan-American Federation of Labor Meeting.

Conclusion

References