AZ: The History of Arizona podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 177: The Bisbee Deportation, Part I: A Foothold in the Paradise of Capitalism May 06, 2024

Show notes

As we move into discussing one of the big black marks on Arizona history, we first must talk about Bisbee and that one time when the Western Federation of Miners was able to just barely gain a foothold in the company town.

Episode 176: Labor Strikes, Part VI: You Cannot Compromise With a Rattlesnake Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

After the U.S. entered World War I in the spring of 1917, another wave of strikes erupted across Arizona. But the owners of the state’s copper mines had learned a trick or two and were able to brand unions as anti-American agitators. Eventually the heavy hammer of company authority would fall everywhere , even in places as staunchly pro-labor as Globe and Miami.

Episode 175: Labor Strikes, Part V: Boogeymen and Backlash Apr 22, 2024

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As labor made its gains in the early 20th century, the companies they were agitating against embarked on a concerted campaign to co-opt, malign and marginalize any dissidents. One particular target was the IWW, which the companies soon managed to turned into villains in the public imagination, despite them doing very, very little.

Episode 174: Labor Strikes, Part IV: A Qualified Victory Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

In 1915-1916, the miners and Clifton and Morenci participated in a strike that was unusual - it was non-violent, didn’t involve strikebreakers, and no troops were called in to stop it. But most unusual of all - the strikers basically won.

Labor Strikes, Part III: The Miami Scale Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

In 1915, miners at both Miami and Ray decided that they wanted a bigger piece of the pie. And, surprisingly, in both instances they were able to put together an effective walk out. Even more surprisingly, though they wouldn’t get exactly what they had demanded, they were both able to secure important concessions from the copper corporations.

Episode 172: Labor Strikes, Part II: The Trouble in Cananea Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

You would think that the workers at the Cananea Consolidated Copper Company mines in Sonora going on strike would be outside this podcast’s purview. But, oh, how did Arizona - and its territorial rangers - found a way to be involved.

Episode 171: Labor Strikes, Part I: The Mexican Incident at Clifton Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

The early 20th century saw a variety of labor disputes and strikes throughout Arizona. One of the earliest was in the communities of Clifton, Morenci, and Metcalf, when Mexican miners had the crazy notion that they deserved the same pay as their American counterparts.

Episode 170: George VII Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

After Hunt became governor in 1914, his name would appear on nearly every ballot for the next 20 years. His remarkable seven terms in office would be eventful, but rocky. Today we unpack the political life and times of Arizona’s first governor.

Episode 169: The Making of a Progressive Politician Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

George W. P. Hunt was not your typical politician. He was bald, rotund, not good at public speaking, never really sure wanted to campaign, and always just a touch more radical than everyone else. This week we explore how he went from a runaway to a leader in Arizona’s Democratic Party.

Episode 168: A Democratic Landslide Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

With Arizona now a full-fledged member of the Union, we must go back to the fall of 1911 and discuss who exactly it will be that will helm this new state government. Hint - It will not be any Republicans.