Question/Problem 10:Describe the working conditions in factories in the late 19th century.

Objectives

Description of lesson/activity

Resources

1. understand aspects of the poor working conditions found in may factories in the United States.

2. examine the similarities and differences between late 19th century and modern working conditions.

1. Students should read the appropriate chapter/section in their textbooks.

2. The teacher should share the accompanying excerpt from Upton Sinclair's, The Jungle, and lead a discussion about the conditions described in the excerpt.

3. Students should then read excerpts from newspaper articles on two industrial fires, one in New York (1911) and one in North Carolina (1991). Following the reading, students should fill out the "Comparison of Working Conditions" worksheet.

4. As a concluding activity students should write a letter to the editor of a turn-of- the-century newspaper using evidence from the above to decry deplorable working conditions.

1. Student textbook
2. Resource: Excerpts from Upton Sinclair's, The Jungle
3. Resource: Triangle Shirtwaist reading
4. Resource: Imperial Foods Company reading
5. Resource: "Comparison of Working Conditions" Worksheet