Curated OER
Making Sense of the Employee Free Choice Act
Students examine the Employee Free Choice Act. In this workers' rights lesson plan, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the legislation. Students work in pairs to discuss questions and...
Curated OER
Farmworkers and the Union: A Lesson from Viva La Causa
Learners examine the role of labor unions. In this labor union lesson, students watch "Viva la Causa" and discuss the working conditions that led farm workers to strike. Learners also read a handout regarding labor unions and share their...
Curated OER
Why did the Homestead Strike turn violent?
Fifth graders practice reading skills while looking at different accounts of The Homestead Strike. In this reading skills lesson, 5th graders practice sourcing, close reading, and corroboration through reading a timeline and...
Curated OER
Your Land is My Land: A Look at Bootleg Coal Mining During the Depression
Students examine the extreme conditions of unemployment during the Great Depression. In this multiple perspectives instructional activity, students analyze photographs of coal mining, research and adopt the perspective of a person...
Curated OER
United We Stand
Student examine the life and work of Cesar Chavez. In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students read about Cesar Chavez and recognize his work as a labor leader. Students discuss the concept of standing together as a group to fight...
Curated OER
The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement (2)
In this online interactive American history worksheet, high schoolers answer 10 multiple choice questions regarding big business and the labor movement. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement (3)
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 10 multiple choice questions regarding the rise of big business and the labor movement. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Labor Matters
Learners examine the labor movement. In this labor issues lesson, students discuss the role of labor organizations and research their beginnings in order to better understand the debate over the Employee Free Choice Act.
Curated OER
Collective Behavior and Social Movements
In this collective behavior and social movements worksheet, students match 15 vocabulary terms to the appropriate descriptions and answer 6 multiple choice questions regarding the 2 sociology topics.
Curated OER
The Effects of Unions on Wages And Employment in Competitive And Monopsonistic Labor Markets
In this economics worksheet, students examine the effects of unions and wages on employment in competitive and monopolistic labor markets by comparing and contrasting two labor markets and answering seven questions.
Curated OER
Factory Conditions
In this United States history worksheet, middle schoolers utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to factory conditions and the rise of labor unions. A short answer question is...
Curated OER
The Progressive Era
Students explore The Progressive Era, and discuss labor unions, coal mining, employee rights, and strikes. Unit of lessons all on one page.
Curated OER
Roll the Union On: the National Labor Relations Act and the Rise of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
Students examine the many different programs Roosevelt created as a result of the Great Depression. They research the National Labor Relations Act and explore what working conditions were like during that time.
Curated OER
Lattimer Massacre: What's Beneath the Surface?
Middle schoolers research the growth of unions due to issues related to the Lattimer Massacre. They research primary source documents and create posters, skits and role plays.
Curated OER
Women In The Labor Force Since 1920
Young scholars investigate the historical perspective of how women were perceived in the labor force since 1920 forward. They conduct research that focuses on how the role of women has changed in different periods of time. They identify...
Curated OER
The Great Migration: Two American Tales
Students compare and contrast experiences of European immigrants and African American migrants in U.S. cities. After examining the topic, they write essays evaluating the differences and similarities of the groups' experiences.
Curated OER
Yes, We Can!
Pupils examine a situation of striking workers in Los Angeles. They answer questions related to the story. They also interview people involved if time allows.
Curated OER
The Struggle to Organize
Students analyze correspondence and a news release regarding the Harlan, Kentucky, mine strike of 1931-1932. They use these documents to discuss the problems of organizing industrial trade unions before the New Deal.
Curated OER
Labor Day
Students examine the events which led to the observance of Labor Day as a national holiday, and analyze the role of labor unions in American history, past and present, through a variety of activities.
Curated OER
History Matters: Leon Sverdlove on the Taft Hartley Act
It's interesting to read about the anti-union sentiment that led to the Taft-Hartley Act after World War II, but even more amazing to see how that sentiment was tied to the anti-communist witch hunts of the time. Read the comments of the...
Curated OER
History Matters: "Word Has Just Been Received:"truman Speaks on Railway Strike
Read the text and listen to President Truman's speech concerning his plans to address the railway strike that was affecting the post-World War II economy. (12 min.19 sec.)
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: Alice Henry: The Trade Union Woman
Excerpt from the Preface to Alice Henry's book, The Trade Union Woman (1915) in which Henry argues for regulation of wages and working conditions for women. Link to the entire book.
Curated OER
History Matters: "A Healthy Public Opinion"
Read Terence V. Powderly's reasoning for keeping the Knights of Labor, which he headed, out of the turmoil that came after the Haymarket Square Riot.
Curated OER
History Matters: Camella Teoli Testifies About the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike
Read the gripping testimony of an immigrant girl who testified before a U.S. Congressional committee detailing the conditons in the textile mill in which she worked. Because of these unsafe working conditions, the textile workers...