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.
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.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: Labor Day 2021

For Students 9th - 10th
Labor Day 2021 occurred on Monday, September 6. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the...
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.
Website
Other

I Boston: Boston Police Strike of 1919

For Students 9th - 10th
The year 1919 was a year of strikes all across America. Read about the Boston police force's attempts to unionize in order to improve wages and working conditions. The disastrous results were attributed partly to ethnic prejudice, partly...
Activity
Other

Illinois State Museum: The American Railway Union

For Students 9th - 10th
Excerpt from U.S. Strike Commission Report. Site also provides focus questions at the bottom.
Website
Other

Afl Cio America's Union Movement

For Students 9th - 10th
The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) enables working people to have a voice on the job and in the government through the creation of labor unions. This very extensive website offers...
Website
University of Washington

Seattle General Strike Project: The Seattle General Strike of 1919

For Students 9th - 10th
Labor turmoil spread across the United States in 1919. Read about how the Seattle General Strike led the way. Find out about how the shipyard workers were joined by others, and whether the strike was effective.
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.
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.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Haymarket Square Riot

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the Haymarket Square riot and its cause. Find quotes from the Chicago Tribune which called the protesters insurrectionists, and two Illinois governors who doubted the guilt of those rounded up, charged, and convicted of...
Website
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Founding Convention of the Cio Historical Marker

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, a union that represented steel workers, among many other factoy workers. Find out about their tactics used in strikes during the Great Depression.
Website
Other

Trade Summit Protesters Battle in Quebec City 2001

For Students 9th - 10th
An American left-wing website reports on the protesters in Quebec City in 2001 that accompanied the Free Trade of the Americas Agreement (FTAA) Summit hosted by Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Offers students a glimpse at the wide variety...
Website
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Great Steel Strike of 1919

For Students 9th - 10th
Ohio History Central gives a brief summary of the Great Steel Strike of 1919, an attempt by steel workers to get higher pay and a shorter work day. Find out the results of the strike.
Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Industrial Workers of the World

For Students 9th - 10th
A very brief description of the Industrial Workers of the World and what they represented.
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.
Website
Other

Battle of Homestead Foundation: The 1892 Battle of Homestead

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting account of the Homestead Strike of 1892. Learn about the demands of the steelworkers and the violent response of the factory owners. Find drawings and pictures of what happened.
Handout
History Link

History Link: Seattle General Strike, 1919

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the history of the Seattle General Strike in 1919. Find out what its objectives were and why it ended up as a failure.
eBook
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: The Pursuit of Justice

For Students 9th - 10th
This book analyzes 30 Supreme Court cases chosen by a group of Supreme Court justices and leading civics educators as the most important for American citizens to understand. An additional 100 significant cases included in state history...
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson Exhibit

For Students 6th - 8th
The Library of Congress has created an exhibit which focuses on the extraordinary legacy of Thomas Jefferson--founding father, farmer, architect, inventor, slaveholder, book collector, scholar, diplomat, and the third president of the...
Website
Other

Equal Employment Opportunities and Affirmative Action

For Students 9th - 10th
This St. Norbert College offers a research presentation that provides brief overviews of the equal employment laws, executive order 11246, and hiring processes.
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: The Third League in Professional Baseball

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will analyze three documents from the court case The Federal League of Baseball Clubs v. The American and National Leagues of Baseball Clubs to gain an understanding of baseball contracts and labor issues in the Progressive Era....
Handout
Digital History

Digital History: Viva La Raza!

For Students 9th - 10th
This Digital History site provides an informative overview of the Mexican American civil rights movement in America.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Red Scare

For Students 5th - 8th
A dark side to the Jazz Age was the increase in the fear of Communism. Read about the federal government's actions to stem anything that was thought to threaten American security.