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Handout
Social Studies Help Center

Social Studies Help Center: American Government, Unionism Friend or Foe?

For Students 9th - 10th
This site highlights the conflicting points of view within the government of labor unionizing. Focuses on pro and anti union legislation througout history and the attempt to balance workers rights with economic success.
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Primary
American Presidency Project

American Presidency Project: Harry S. Truman: State of the Union Message, 1949

For Students 9th - 10th
After Harry S. Truman's astounding election, his annual State of the Union message outlined his primary domestic policy which he called the Fair Deal. Read his speech to see what he felt were the greatest problems facing the United...
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Professional Doc
Library of Congress

Loc: Labor Unions During the Great Depression and New Deal

For Students 9th - 10th
This learning page features an overview of labor relations during the 1930s with links to many primary source documents from the era.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Legacy of the New Deal

For Students 9th - 10th
This is just a short article, but it includes big ideas. See the lasting legacy of the New Deal as the many of the programs begun at that time are still a large part of American government and life.
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Handout
Digital History

Digital History: Wagner Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the growth of labor unions during the 1930s as the Great Depression continued, due to the passage of the Wagner Act. Find out about the strikes and the conflict between labor and management, as well as conflict within the...
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Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Making Steel

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine the historical and economic impact of the Pennsylvania's steel industry. Included in this historical account are video, maps, and pictorial artifacts of this era.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: National Labor Relations Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers information on the National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act. Includes background, content, controversies that arose, and criticisms of the Act, along with many links to more information.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: National Labor Relations Act (1935)

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the original document that established the National Labor Relations Board written in 1935. Also known as the Wagner Act, its intention was to give employees the right to form unions and to engage in collective bargaining.
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Handout
US Department of Labor

U.s. Department of Labor: Hall of Secretaries: Frances Perkins

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Department of Labor provides this brief biography of Cabinet member, Frances Perkins, who led reform efforts in the realm of labor law during the Great Depression. Short, biographical sketch with good, factual information being...
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Article
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Labor and Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the rise of unions in the United States in the early 1900's. Understand Roosevelt's role in unions, the Wagner Act, and sit down strikes.
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Website
Other

Nlrb: 1947 Taft Hartley Substantive Provisions

For Students 9th - 10th
The Taft-Hartley Act was a contentious law aimed at limiting the influence of labor unions immediately after World War II. Read about the act and the changes it made to the Wagner Act.
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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.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Wagner, Robert Ferdinand

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biographical sketch of Senator Robert F. Wagner, best known as the author of the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) in 1935, which was part of the New Deal.
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Handout
US Senate

U.s. Senate: Robert Wagner: A Featured Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Short biographical essay on Robert F. Wagner, author of the Social Security Act and the Wagner Labor Act.