Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: How Labor Got Its Day
If you asked students what comes to mind first when they think of Labor Day, what do you think they would say? The last days of summer? A family picnic? Shopping the Labor Day sales? The purpose of this instructional activity is to...
Fact Monster
Fact Monster: International Ladies Garment Workers Union
Due to the strife incurred by garment workers at the turn of the century, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was formed. Read about its history and its relevancy in the 21st century.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Mary Harris Jones
Female labor activist "Mother Jones" was a self-proclaimed "hell-raiser" in the cause of economic justice.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: Becoming Modern: America in the 1920s: Prosperity
Collection of six sections with primary resource material on the prosperity achieved during the 1920s explores consumerism, labor, and business. Includes notes, discussion questions and links to supplemental sources.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Worker Safety the Triangle Fire Legacy
Students investigate the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire tragedy and how its impact is still felt today. Students identify eerie parallels between the Triangle Fire and more recent workplace events with safety implications. How can future...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Cesar Chavez
Learn about this leader who helped bring many important changes for farm workers in the U.S. Following the peaceful examples of King and Ghandi, Cesar Chavez helped much needed improvements take place.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: American Federation of Labor
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...
Chicago History Museum
Encyclopedia of Chicago: Railroad Strike of 1877
This article from the Encyclopedia of Chicago explains how a strike by railroad workers in West Virginia eventually made its way to Chicago and was taken up by workers from many industries. See how city officials resolved this general...
Other
The Progressive Magazine
Homepage of the national magazine for peace and social justice, THE PROGRESSIVE. Read recent news regarding social justice here.
Library of Congress
Loc: America at the Turn of the Century
A short report on America by 1900: "..the American nation had established itself as a world power. The West was Won. The frontier -- the great fact of 300 years of American history -- was no more."