Book Chapter: The Cultural Opposition to Capitalism

Capitalism is sometimes perceived negatively by the general population in West Virginia. This anti-capitalist mentality has no doubt been responsible for some of West Virginia’s current policies. Because popular attitudes play a significant role in shaping the economic policies that legislators pursue, attitudes toward capitalism grounded in reality rather than folklore are crucial to achieving the much-needed reforms this book considers.

After discussions with many individual West Virginians, it became clear that this anticapitalist mentality is mostly rooted in stories from our state’s historical experiences with industry, specifically in coal mining. What role did capitalism play in our past? This chapter examines the evidence. To do this, I draw on the work of noted economic historian, Price V. Fishback from his book, Soft Coal, Hard Choices: The Economic Welfare of Bituminous Coal Miners, 1890-1930. By looking at the historical data uncovered in Fishback’s research it becomes possible to separate the rhetoric from the reality of capitalism’s role in West Virginia’s coal mining history.

Find the chapter on Claudia Williamson's website, and purchase the book at Amazon.com.