"The Mollie Maguires" was a name that was bestowed upon the militant coal miners in the harsh late 19h century. Although there were no official records saying that such an organization existed, nineteen men were hanged for their crimes as "Mollies". This story was an excellent historical reference of the background, conditions, and struggles faced by the Pennsylvania miners in the anthracite fields. These miners faced low wages, bad working conditions, and long work days. They had finally had enough of this harsh treatment and they formed a union called the Workingmen's Benevolent Association. Since these miners were mainly Irish, most of the WBA also belonged to an Irish fraternal organization known as the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The AOH had several people from several different classes of prestige. This membership in the AOH would eventually doom the miners. Overall, the militant working class man, who gave any protest to his mistreatment in the coal mines would in time become known as a Mollie Maguire. These Mollie Maguires in time, will be subject to some of the worst atrocities and treatment that I could have ever imagined.
This book begins with a lesson in the background of the Mollies. Then it goes on to explain their Irish origin and their connection with the WBA and AOH. The next section of the book gives accounts of the working conditions that the miners faced in the Pennsylvania anthracite fields. In the early 19th century developing industries needed more fuel and the greatest usage came from anthracite, mainly in eastern Pennsylvania. With this demand for fuel came the demand for labor. People swept from all over into the region which "rivaled the rush to California in 1849".(p.18) This land eventually became terrain in which the capitalists rushed to so they might find instant fortune. Not long after towns came up. Wealthy men began sending these laborers to the coal mines to exploit them for every ounce of time and energy they had.