Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Prosperity: Labor Union

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards historical documents, literary texts, and works of art thematically organized with notes and discussion questions....
Website
Other

Michigan State University: Earliest Voices: Samuel Gompers

For Students 9th - 10th
This webpage offers a 1917 historic voice recording of labor leader Samuel Gompers on changes that were taking place in the labor movement as a result of World War I. A biography and downloadable images included.
Website
Other

Earliest Voices: Gallery From the Vincent Voice Library

For Students 9th - 10th
This site addresses the advent of the voice recording. The introduction talks about the country at the time of this invention, the feelings of people on the topic, and early recording itself. Included are voice recordings of such...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Americans and the Great War 1914 1919: A New Home Front

For Students 11th - 12th
World War I changed the configuration of the workforce and organized labor took the opportunity to strengthen its power base. This section looks at the impact of these changes on women and African Americans, as well as how the women's...
Study Guide
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History Unit: Period 7: 1890 1945: Intro.: Age of Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
The study resource from Khan Academy provides an overview of Period 7: 1890-1945 in American History. The Age of Empire is discussed in this lesson. This resource is designed as a review for the AP US History Test.
Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: The Struggles of Labor

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses how for much of the latter half of the 1800s, the life of the common laborer was horrendous. Working in a unsanitary factory, for at least 10 hours a day, making far less than needed to survive, the struggles of the...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Samuel Gompers and the American Federation of Labor

For Students 9th - 10th
A good look at not only Samuel Gompers and the formation of the American Federation of Labor, but also of the course of unionism in general, its successes and failures, its goals, and membership in the late 19th century.
Website
University of Maryland

Samuel Gompers Papers: Industrial Workers of the World

For Students 9th - 10th
From the papers of Samuel Gompers, this is a description of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and its aims in the early 20th century.
Website
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: The Samuel Gompers Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Site from the University of Maryland provides primary source documents, a brief history of the labor movement, and biographical information about Samuel Gompers. A great resource for teachers and students.
Primary
University of California

Uc Berkeley: Emma Goldman's Published Essays and Pamphlets: Samuel Gompers [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay dedicated to Samuel Gompers, founder of the American Federation of Labor, written by Emma Goldman and published in 1925.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Spotlight Biography: Labor Reformers

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information on Samuel Gompers, Frances Perkins and Cesar Chavez. All three were inspirations for the labor union movement.
Website
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: The Great Steel Strike of 1919 Historical Marker

For Students 9th - 10th
A strike by steel workers in Chicago eventually spread across the United States in 1919. Read about the strike, how was involved, and how the employers turned popular opinion against the strikers.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Working for Freedom: Labor Reform and the Triangle Factory Fire [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that examines the conditions American workers faced in the late 1800s. Students will understand the factors that precipitated the birth and growth...
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: The Gilded Age: The Knights of Labor

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the rise of labor unions and the history of the Knights of Labor. After the Haymarket Square riots, members deserted it and many joined the American Federation of Labor instead. Includes questions for students at end.
Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: American Federation of Labor

For Students 9th - 10th
A history of the American Federation of Labor and its organization in 1881 by Samuel Gompers. Read about its growth and eventual combining with the Congress of Industrial Organization to become the AFL-CIO.
Unknown Type
History Teacher

Historyteacher.net: The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement: Quiz (1)

For Students 9th - 10th
10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and tests your knowledge of industry and the labor movement in the late 19th century.
Graphic
Other

Gilded Age: From Frontier to Factory Timeline 1845 1916

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A timeline that lists major events in culture, military, industry, and politics across three-quarters of a century.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: American Federation of Labor

For Students 5th - 8th
Samuel Gompers, master organizer, had a vision of a national union that would have economic clout, but would steer clear of politics. Read about his organization of skilled workers in craft unions under the banner of the American...
Website
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Samuel Gompers

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Samuel Gompers focusing primarily on his activities in labor union history.
Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Terence Powderly

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Terence Powderly, formative leader of the Knights of Labor, as well as an official in the Bureau of Immigration.
Handout
Other

Afl Cio America's Unions: Samuel Gompers

For Students 9th - 10th
The life of union leader Samuel Gompers (1850-1924).
Activity
Seymour Brody

Jewish Heroes in America: Samuel Gompers

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn about this former president of The American Federation of Labor, who was a leader in the labor movement in the early 1900s.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Samuel Gompers

For Students 9th - 10th
(1850-1924) "An American labor leader, one of the founders and the first president of the American Federation of Labor." -Foster, 1921
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Samuel Gompers

For Students 9th - 10th
(1850-1924) British labor leader who became a major figure in the American labor movement.