Forging the West 2016
Distributed by Historic Pueblo, Inc., PO Box 2386, Pueblo, CO 81005, 719-252-5389
Produced by Jim Havey
Directed by Jim Havey
DVD , color, 60 min.
High School - General Adult
Business, Capitalism, History, Industry, Labor Movement, Labor Relations, Social Sciences
Date Entered: 10/11/2017
Reviewed by Douglas Reed, Department of Political Science, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, ARForging the West recounts the history of one of the most important enterprises in the industrial development of the western United States and uncovers a violent yet pivotal chapter in the American labor movement.
The film chronicles the long, colorful history of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I), a private business founded in the late 1800’s that grew to be the key producer of steel, coal, and iron used to develop the American West. Leading the way in the metals and energy industries wasn’t CF&I’s only legacy. The company was also instrumental in advancing the cause of labor and assimilating immigrant workers. CF&I’s early owners – William Jackson Palmer, John Osgood, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. – provided company-owned housing, schools, and hospitals for its employees, believing “happy workers are productive workers” and, as a result, minimized the need for labor unions. The tide began to turn when workers began demanding safer, more optimal working conditions and desiring less company control over their lives. This opposition led to the Colorado Coalfield War, a fierce confrontation between striking workers, militia, and mine guards. Then came the Ludlow Massacre, which sparked a gradual change in management-labor relations and ultimately led to recognition of the labor unions. The film also discusses CF&I’s decline into bankruptcy and its current operation as a steel recycling facility owned by Evraz, a Russian multinational corporation.
Against a rich backdrop of archival footage and photos, Forging the West marks a significant era in American industry and its workforce.
Highly recommended for all libraries, Forging the West is a valuable resource for courses in business, history, and the social sciences. The film also includes bonus archival films from the Steelworks Center of the West.