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“The Anthracite Alliances: Ethnic Divides in Northeastern Pennsylvania Coal Fields, 1850-1875”
While coal mining had existed in the United States since the early nineteenth century, the development of railroads and the rapid growth of American cities during the middle of the century heightened demand for coal. Anthracite coal fields were found in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and several coal mining companies emerged in this region. The plethora of jobs available as coal miners brought many American immigrants to Pennsylvania, and an ethnic partition of the region quickly ensued as the coal fields came to be dominated by men from Ireland, Wales, Italy, Germany, as well as a host of other European nations. Additionally, canals were carved out of the Pennsylvania landscape in order for mine companies to transport coal into cities like Philadelphia and New York. In my research, I hope to potentially answer some historical questions that arise from these events. I would like to discover how the rapid development of the coal region shaped the social dynamic of the anthracite region, and whether any racial tensions emerged between different ethnic groups, or even between miners and mine owners of different ethnicities. I might also like to find out how the creation of canals in Pennsylvania altered the landscape – both literally and demographically – and how it affected people – perhaps Native Americans – who were previously living on the land. In order to answer these questions, I would try to use a wealth of newspaper articles from the mid-nineteenth century to see how the attraction of coal created divided communities. I could also strive to find correspondence between mine or railroad owners. Lastly, I might like to find any foreign newspapers published at the time not only to learn about the sentiments of the groups of the anthracite region but also to signify the importance of ethnic connections in the coal fields.