Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Pullman Strike

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. This document-based inquiry lesson plan allows students read parallel accounts of the Pullman Strike of 1894...
Website
Other

Kansas Heritage: Pullman Strike, Chicago, 1894

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed and informative site explains how the Pullman Strike, which began as a peaceful protest about rent in the company town of Pullman, spread across the country and brought railroad traffic to a halt.
Primary
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: The Homestead and Pullman Strikes

For Students 9th - 10th
1896, A Website of Political Cartoons and Commentary provides the illustrated story of both the Homestead and Pullman strikes with quotes from newspapers of the time and a brief characterization of Andrew Carnegie. The site includes a...
Lesson Plan
University of California

History Project: The Pullman Strike of 1894

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Given background information and primary source documents, students will write an essay describing the events of the Pullman Strike of 1894 organized around a theme.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Pullman Strike, the Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870 1912

For Students 9th - 10th
An article that describes the Utopian factory town George Pullman built for his workers, a statement of the grievances that led them to strike against the company, the Pullman Company's response, and an editorial speculating on the...
Primary
Other

Ussc the Pullman Strike: Its Causes and Events

For Students 9th - 10th
An excerpt from U.S. Strike Commission Report on the Pullman Strike. Site presents questions at the end for study.
Handout
Other

Illinois Labor History Society: The Parable of Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource gives an account of the Pullman Strike of 1894. It discusses what the strike was about, how it was resolved, and the effect its outcome had.
Lesson Plan
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: George Pullman: His Impact on Rr Industry, Labor, and American Life in 19th C.

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson plan seeks to discover the impact George Pullman had, not only on the railroad industry, but also on American life, by improving rail travel, and also establishing a company town for his...
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Pullman Boycott

For Students 9th - 10th
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section provides a good description of the events of 1893-1894, including the reasons for the boycott of Pullman cars, the people involved, and how the...
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Federal Intervention in Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes President Grover Cleveland's role in sending federal troops to suppress the Pullman boycott, resulting in increased chaos from the...
Handout
Other

Pullman Car: George Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at George M. Pullman's business career, beginning with his business as building-mover, and continuing with his venture into building luxury rail cars.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How a Deadly Railroad Strike Led to the Labor Day Holiday

For Students 9th - 10th
When the federal government was called in to suppress a railroad workers' strike, dozens were killed and politicians sought a way to show they still supported workers. July 1894, President Grover Cleveland finally signed into law...
Website
Other

The Pullman State Historic Site : George Mortimer Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you can find out everything you wanted to know about George Pullman, and even things you didn't know you wanted to know. Find out about his childhood, his family, his business career, and the company town he established.
Handout
Other

Illinois Labor History Society: Gene Debs and the American Railway Union

For Students 9th - 10th
Description of the rise and fall of the American Railway Union in the context of the Pullman Strike.
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Labor Battles in the Gilded Age

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the Homestead Strike of 1892 and the Pullman Strike of 1894 and how these ended, as well as responses of the federal government to the labor movement. Includes questions for students at end.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Labor Conflicts and Unionism

For Students 9th - 10th
This several page chapter from the site From Revolution to Reconstruction outlines the growth of the union in the railroad industry in the late 19th century. Read about the strikes, working conditions, the beginning of the American...
Website
Other

The Pullman State Historic Site : The Pullman Company

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the Pullman Company, founded by George M. Pullman. Find out about the many variations of the Pullman rail car that were manufactured and how they helped the company grow.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How a Deadly Railroad Strike Led to the Labor Day Holiday

For Students 9th - 10th
The history behind the Labor Day holiday is far more complex and dramatic than most might realize, starting with a heated campaign by workers in the late 19th century to win support and recognition for their contributions. In July 1894,...
Handout
Other

Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Great Southwestern Strike

For Students 9th - 10th
Prior to the nationwide Pullman Railway Strike in 1894, railroad workers struck against rail lines controlled by Jay Gould. Read about the strike, the initial success, and eventual defeat for the workers.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Labor Unions and Strikes

For Teachers 5th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart focuses on the Haymarket Riot, the Homestead Strike, and the Pullman Strike.
Handout
Other

Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography: George Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of George Pullman outlines his business acumen in the development of the Pullman railroad sleeper car, which offered luxury on long train trips. Read the description of the company town he developed in Illinois to house...
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: For the Further Benefit of Our People

For Students 9th - 10th
After the onset of the 1893 Depression, George Pullman of the Pullman Palace Car Company found his company crumbling as employees "Appealed to the American Railway Union (ARU), which organized a nationwide strike." Read the letter he...
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.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Industrialization: Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor

For Students 11th - 12th
Learn about the lives of the working class in Industrial America, what led to the formation of labor unions, and why labor unions were not successful despite strike actions.

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