1. Choose a perspective and research in depth that perspective of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. Examples of relevant research perspectives include the striking workers, the owners of the railroad, the police, and the townspeople. 2. Use the ExplorePAHistory Image Gallery "The Great Railroad Strike of 1877." [if possible, link to http://www.explorepahistory.com/displaygallery.php?gallery_id=32&bcolor=salmon under Media for The Railroad of Pennsylvania Story] to analyze additional visual material of the strike. 3. Choose one democratic newspaper and one republican newspaper from a city affected by the strikes. Investigate the reporting of events and show how the media reported the event in a biased or unbiased manner. Use specific examples from your newspaper resources. One possible resource for your research is the web site University of Nebraska-Railroads and the Making of Modern America http://segonku.unl.edu/railroads/documents/search.php?views%5B0%5D=Strike&rends%5B0%5D=newspaper&publication=The+Daily+Post . 4. Investigate how labor unions played a role in and were affected by The Great Strike of 1877. Follow the rise of labor unions after 1877 and create a timeline of significant events in their history. 5. After thoroughly researching the historic event of The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, you are called in by government officials who want to make sure this type of devastation of property and human life does not occur again in the future. They are looking to you as an expert to give your best advice on how to prevent "history from repeating itself." Prepare your briefing for the government with at least three specific and detailed suggestions and present your findings to the class. The class can play the role of a special government sub-committee set up to hear expert opinion on this matter.

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum
500 S. Third Street Hamburg, Pennsylvania 19526 (610) 562-5513

To understand further how the Reading Railroad shaped the surrounding community, students can visit the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum during the weekend. Watch an orientation video, visit museum exhibits, and experience some of the historic trains that were once a part of this thriving rail yard.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Route 741, P. O. Box 15 Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579 (717) 687-8628

This museum administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission offers a wonderful history of railroads and railroading in Pennsylvania. It also provides many educational programs for varying age groups. The museum includes among its assets and library and archives which hold interesting primary documents pertaining to railroading history. For a field trip call the museum's education center to coordinate the most meaningful experience for your students.