Coxeys

Coxeys refers to the followers of Coxey's Army, a protest movement in the United States during the economic distress of the Panic of 1893 led by Jacob Coxey. The group, sometimes called the Coxeys, advocated a federal public works program to create jobs and relieve unemployment, arguing that the federal government should fund large-scale infrastructure projects.

The movement emerged from reform circles in Ohio and the Midwest as Coxey, a businessman and reformer, proposed a plan to address widespread poverty and underemployment. He organized a march of unemployed men and their supporters toward Washington, D.C., intending to present Congress with a petition calling for federal public works employment and monetary reform. The effort drew supporters from several states and became a national symbol of frustration with the economic downturn.

In 1894, hundreds to possibly a few thousand Coxeys joined the march, which reached the nation’s capital in the spring. Upon attempting to present their petition and advocate for federal relief, some participants faced confrontation with authorities and were detained. Although the protest drew significant public attention and fueled debate about unemployment relief and federal intervention, it did not result in immediate policy changes.

Legacy of the Coxeys lies in their place as one of the early organized demonstrations by the unemployed in the United States. The movement helped frame conversations about public works, economic stimulus, and government responsibility during periods of economic hardship, influencing later reform movements even as it failed to secure the desired legislative outcomes at the time.