The Wobblies in Their Heyday: The Rise and Destruction of the Industrial Workers of the World during the World War I Era

The Rise and Destruction of the Industrial Workers of the World during the World War I Era

During World War I, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) rose to prominence as an effective, militant union and then was destroyed by a devastating campaign of repression launched by the federal government. This book documents the rise and fall of this important industrial labor organization.

• Offers an accurate portrayal of the Wobblies as a group of dedicated radicals who viewed workplace organizing as one aspect of a broader movement to bring about fundamental social change

• Presents information drawn from a wide range of documents held in the National Archives that were kept closed to the public for many decades after the World War I era

• Provides a unique case study of the profound impact that World War I had on those who remained at home and how the federal government stifled dissent to quell popular discontent

• Represents the only modern, in-depth, and scholarly examination of the IWW in its heyday