Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution

I chose to read Big Annie of Calumet because it features a strong female protagonist, who dedicated a year of her life to working to improve the lives of her family and friends during the Industrial Revolution. She is not only a positive role model for young adults, but also her story is inspiring and interesting for all ages of readers. It is another reminder of those who gave so much so that we can live as comfortably as we do, which is the theme of the book. In 1913 Annie Clemenc, the wife of a Croatian miner, led copper mine strikers in Upper Michigan in daily protest demonstrations against unsafe working conditions, long hours and low pay. Her determination, courage and strength were aimed at the powerful Calumet and Hecla Mining Company. Annie was born in 1888, the oldest of five children, to George and Mary Klobuchar, who were immigrants from Croatia. Her father worked in the C & H Mines for thirty years and Mary worked as a cook and maid for a wealthy family. Annie graduated from a C & H school and became a church worker, who helped crippled miners. She also helped the family by doing laundry for other families. Even though they worked hard, there was no guarantee that there would be enough money for food and clothing. When she was eighteen, she married Joseph Clemenc, a Croatian miner. If Annie was lucky, she could earn fifty cents a day scrubbing floors and washing other people's clothing. She had grown up in poverty, living in a shack and wearing secondhand dresses. She would either continue to live in poverty or she would march against the people who kept her in poverty. "In the summer of 1913, she decided to march." The story is set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution and the author devoted the first chapter and much of this book to describing the struggle by the working class during that period in U.S. history. He explained that the number of immigrants to this country was the largest movement of people in history. He also explained that a small group of men gained control of the natural resources. Focusing on profit, these men seemed to forget the workers on whose backs they amassed great fortunes. He shows the reader how men, women and children worked ten to twelve hour days, sometimes seven days and week and earning less that ten dollars a week. Women and children averaged five dollars a week and they worked in unsafe conditions. The author tells how Big Annie marched daily against the giant C & H Mining Co. and provoked them to take several actions against the miners. The striking miners were opposed by the state militia, business owners in the town, which was run by the mining company, and by strikebreakers. They faced shootings and beatings and even the courts and gained international attention in the news media. You'll have to read this wonderful book to find out what happened, but it's a wonderful read and well worth your time! A great book for al