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Website
Other

Maryland State Archives: The Strike of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
The Strike of 1877, also known as 'The Great Strike,' took place on railroads across the nation. The strike was the result of continued wage cuts of the laborers such as engineers and trainmen, while many of the companies continued to...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Nysed: The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This very complete lesson plan from the New York State Library uses newspaper accounts to give a "you are there" feeling to the discussion of the Railroad Strike of 1877. Included are a history of the strike, student activities,...
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Website
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Eslarp's Social History Project: 1877 Rr Strike

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of the railroad strike of 1877 as it affected particularly Illinois. Read about how the strikes were put down violently and who was blamed for the work stoppages.
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Website
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Expore Pa History: Railroad Strike of 1877 Historical Marker

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the Railroad Strike of 1877 that started in Pennsylvania and spread across the Midwest. Find out about the violence against the strikers and the use of the military to end the strike.
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Handout
Other

Ue News Feature: The Great Strike of 1877 Remembering a Worker Rebellion

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about how the Railroad Strike of 1877 was a first in many ways in labor history. This article sets up the reasons for the strike and the mixed results.
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Handout
Chicago History Museum

Encyclopedia of Chicago: Railroad Strike of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Activity
Other

Nysed: Comparing the Homestead Strike of 1892 With the Great Strike of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a larger lesson plan about the Railroad Strike of 1877, this lesson asks students to compare that strike with the Homestead Strike against Carnegie's steel plant. Activity directions and questions are provided.
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Primary
Other

New York State Library: Student Activity: Primary Versus Secondary Sources

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Read about the Railroad Strike of 1877 using three excerpts from textbooks and three original newspaper articles. Compare and contrast the information in the primary and secondary sources.
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Website
Shmoop University

Shmoop: Labor in the Gilded Age

For Students 9th - 10th
The Gilded Age was a period of terrible labor violence, as industrialists and workers fought for control of the workplace. Workers organized the first large American labor unions during the Gilded Age, while employers tried to stop the...
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Website
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Great Railroad Strike of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
Read how the Great Railroad Strike started and why federal troops were called in to control the strikers.
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Website
Other

The Baltimore Railroad Strike & Riot of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides links to documents within the "Archives of Maryland Series: Documents for the Classroom." Each link leads to primary and secondary resources and resource material on the 1877 railroad strike, as it unfolded in...
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Primary
University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Labor Legacy: Great Railroad Stike of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
See a list of the pictures of places burned in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and view pictures taken at that time.