Jacob S. Coxey
- Jacob Coxey was born in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1854.
- In his early years, Coxey received his first job in a steel mill at around the age of fifteen.
- In 1881, Coxey then moved to Massillon, Ohio. There he created the Coxey Silica Sand Company. Also, in 1891, Coxey established the God Road Association, initiating his desire for a nation with a nation of great public roads. In just over a decade, Coxey would experience first hand the crippling results of the Great Depression.
- Coxey, as well as his business was hit hard by the sharp economic downturn in 1893. In response to this, Coxey led a protest on the government's failure to aid the general public during these rough economic times.
- Coxey earned himself the nickname, "General Coxey," as he led an "army" on Washington D.C. on a march of protest. These men and women left for D.C., "to demand the United States government assist the American Worker." While the army picked up general workers on the way to D.C., Coxey proclaimed that upon arrival to the nation's capital, the army would total around 100,000 men. However, when they finally did reach D.C., the army barely consisted of 500 protesters. They later became known as "Coxey's Army".
- Once the army had reached Washington D.C., Coxey immediately demanded that the government aid these unemployed men and women, who were suffering from the Great Depression, to jobs on government projects, such as roads and the construction of government buildings. President Grover Cleveland as well as Congress emphatically denied Coxey his requests and had him arrested for trespassing on public property. Upon their "General's" arrest, the army quickly scattered.
- Upon his release from prison, Coxey returned to Ohio where he continued to fight for the rights of the working class. During this time, he unsuccessfully ran as the Populist Party's candidate for governor in 1895 and 1897. As the economy began to rise again, Coxey in turn lost many of his supporters. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Senate, Congress, and twice for President.
- In 1914, Coxey led a final protest march on Washington D.C., and once again was not given anything in return.
- Overall, Coxey's fight for the working class of America in response to the government's choice to not aid them after the Great Depression was unsuccessful. No reforms were made and none of his demands were met after two marches on Washington D.C..
- In spite of this, Coxey was able to gain national recognition for his cause and should be credited there.