Coxey’s Army

Coxey’s Army was a protest march in 1894, led by Jacob Coxey, made up of unemployed workers calling for government-funded public works and legal-tender currency. It arose during the Panic of 1893, a harsh economic depression that left over four million Americans jobless and created widespread struggles for both industrial laborers and farming families. Ohio businessman Jacob S Coxey organized the march to urge Congress to support a federally funded road-building program that would create jobs and boost the money supply through issuing legal-tender Treasury notes.

Coxey described the march as a “petition in boots,” a symbolic way to directly appeal to the government by taking to the streets. It kicked off on March 25, 1894, in Massillon, Ohio, with around 100 men. As they moved east, they passed through cities like Pittsburgh, Becks Run, and Homestead, Pennsylvania. Other groups, like Kelley’s Army from California and Fry’s Army from Los Angeles, tried similar marches but mostly fell apart before reaching Washington. By the time Coxey’s Army arrived in the capital on April 30, 1894, it had grown to about 500 people, with others from across the country joining along the route. They camped on a 260-acre site in Colmar Manor, Maryland, before attempting to present their demands to Congress.

When Coxey and his followers reached Washington DC, they tried to speak from the Capitol steps but were arrested for trespassing on the Capitol lawns. While the event drew plenty of attention, it didn’t lead to immediate policy changes. However, it did shine a light on the growing frustration among unemployed Americans and went on to inspire future protest movements.

Coxey’s Army was the first major protest march on Washington DC, introducing the concept of organized, mass demonstrations to push for changes in federal policy and inspiring the phrase “Enough food to feed Coxey’s Army.” Although the march didn’t meet its legislative aims, it represented the struggles of the unemployed in the 1890s, as well as showing the people’s readiness to take direct action for economic relief. It also highlighted the broader social tensions, like debates over currency, labor rights, and the government’s major role in ensuring economic security. The men must have felt better for having at least tried.