, Ohio, USA
1894 - March 25 – Coxey's Army (of the unemployed), the first significant protest march in the United States, departs from Massillon, Ohio, for Washington, D.C.

In 1894, amidst the economic hardships of the Gilded Age in the United States, a notable event took place known as Coxey's Army. On March 25th of that year, a group of unemployed men, led by Jacob Coxey, set out from Massillon, Ohio, on a journey to Washington, D.C. Their aim was to petition the federal government for relief measures and jobs during a severe economic depression that had left many Americans destitute. Coxey's Army, as they were dubbed by the press, consisted of around 100 men initially, but their numbers grew as they marched through several states towards the nation's capital.

The march of Coxey's Army marked the first significant protest of its kind in American history, highlighting the desperation and discontent among the unemployed and working-class Americans at the time. Despite encountering various challenges and arrests along their journey, Coxey and his followers persevered, capturing the attention of the nation and sparking debates about government intervention in economic crises. Their march culminated in a rally in Washington, D.C., where they presented their demands, though their immediate goals were not met, the event became a landmark in the history of labor and protest movements in the United States.

March 25, 1894

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