Jacob S. Coxey Sr. | |
|---|---|
.png) Coxey in 1914 | |
| Mayor of Massillon, Ohio | |
| In office January 1, 1931 – December 31, 1931 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacob Sechler Coxey April 16, 1854 Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 18, 1951 (aged 97) Massillon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Greenback (1874–89) People's (1891–1908) Socialist (1910–1912) Independent (1908–26) Republican (1926–32) Farmer–Labor (1932–36) Union (1936) Democratic (1936–42) |
| Profession | Businessman, landowner, political activist |
Jacob Sechler Coxey Sr. (April 16, 1854 – May 18, 1951), sometimes known as General Coxey, of Massillon, Ohio, was an American politician who ran for office several times in Ohio. Twice, in 1894 and 1914, he led "Coxey's Army", a group of unemployed men who marched to Washington, D.C., to present a "Petition in Boots" demanding that the United States Congress allocate funds to create jobs for the unemployed. Although the marches failed, Coxey's Army was an early attempt to arouse political interest in an issue that grew in importance until the Social Security Act of 1935 encouraged the establishment of state unemployment insurance programs.