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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Development of Labor Unions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the conditions that led to organized labor unions. In this 20th century America lesson, students compare and contrast the Knights of Labor Constitution, the American Federation of Labor Constitution, and the...
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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.
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Website
Other

Mass Moments: January 12, 1912: Bread and Roses Strike Begins

For Students 9th - 10th
The Bread and Roses Strike was given a very slight chance of accomplishing anything for women who worked in poor conditions in the textile mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts. See how wrong the mill owners and even the leaders of the...
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Primary
Michigan State University

Michigan State University: Msu Libraries: Digital Collections: i.w.w.

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source documents related to the Industrial Workers of the World, a labor union that grew out of the effects of industrialization on the workforce. All materials can be downloaded.
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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.
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Website
PBS

American Experience: Espionage and Sedition Acts

For Students 9th - 10th
As progressive a president as Woodrow Wilson was, when the U.S. joined World War I, he signed legislation that made it a crime to criticize the government. Read about the espionage and sedition acts that were passed and how they were...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Eugene v. Debs and American Socialism

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the growth of the Socialist Party in America under the leadership of Eugene V. Debs. Find out about the strikes he led, his political activities, and his arrest for sedition in 1918. Read also about the radical union,...
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Article
Other

Iww: The Basic Labor Laws: The Norris La Guardia Act (1932)

For Students 9th - 10th
A short history of the Norris-LaGuardia Act with respect to labor history.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Progressive Era to New Era, 1900 1929

For Students 3rd - 8th
This website defines and explores the Progressive Era and various aspects of American society during that period of history. It contains fairly simple text and several images.