How did Roosevelt resolve the 1902 coal miners' strike?

How did Roosevelt resolve the 1902 coal miners' strike?

• A. He sent federal troops to break the strike
• B. He intervened and mediated a settlement through arbitration
• C. He did nothing and allowed private arbitration
• D. He declared martial law

Answer: (B)

This question centers on how Roosevelt used the presidency to handle a major labor dispute by mediation and arbitration to protect public welfare. In 1902, a coal miners’ strike threatened the nation’s fuel supply, so Roosevelt stepped in as an umpire and broker rather than calling out the troops or doing nothing. He invited the miners and mine owners to negotiate and established a neutral arbitration process to settle the dispute. The resulting agreement gave miners improvements in working hours and wages, while the owners accepted arbitration as a mechanism for settling such conflicts. This showed a new approach: the federal government could intervene to balance labor and industry interests and resolve strikes through mediation and arbitration, rather than through force.

This question centers on how Roosevelt used the presidency to handle a major labor dispute by mediation and arbitration to protect public welfare. In 1902, a coal miners’ strike threatened the nation’s fuel supply, so Roosevelt stepped in as an umpire and broker rather than calling out the troops or doing nothing. He invited the miners and mine owners to negotiate and established a neutral arbitration process to settle the dispute. The resulting agreement gave miners improvements in working hours and wages, while the owners accepted arbitration as a mechanism for settling such conflicts. This showed a new approach: the federal government could intervene to balance labor and industry interests and resolve strikes through mediation and arbitration, rather than through force.