CHICAGOMETROHISTORYFAIR

2017SUMMARYSTATEMENTFORM

Attachanannotatedbibliography(AB)thatisdividedbetweenprimaryandsecondarysources.
SubmittwocopiesoftheSSandtheABatthecompetition.Pleasetype.

Studentname(s)EdwinIng,EthanLam

Title:A
MASSACREFORRIGHTS:THEBATTLEOFVIRDEN

Checkifapplicable(andrespondtoquestion3)
T
hisprojectusesthe2017NationalHistoryDaytheme,TakingaStandin[Chicago/IL]History.

ProjectCategory:
Exhibit
Studentcomposed
WordCount:

Website
Studentcomposed
WordCount:1483

Paper
Totalwordcount
(Excludingcitations):

Documentary
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1.THESISSTATEMENT
Presenttheprojectsargumentorinterpretationintwosentences.IfyouareusingtheNHDtheme,youmightwantto
makeitevidentinyourthesisstatement.

Duringthe1890s,theunsanitaryworkingconditionsandlowwagesofthecoalminersindustryinVirden,Illinois
werecruelandinhumane.Therefore,theriotsandorganizationsthatweredevisedbytheworkerstoreformthe
standardsarejustified.

2.SUMMARYOFPROJECT
Brieflyexplainyourprojectanditsconclusion.Include:Howandwhydidchangehappenandwhatwastheimpact?W hy
isithistoricallysignificant?W hathistoricalmeaningorimportancecanwelearnfromyourfindings?

LaborershavewentthroughmanytoughdaysintheharshworkingconditionsoftheruggedminesinChicago.
Thestartofrebelliondidnotcomeuntilthenearbeginningofthe1900swhereoneofthedeadliestbattlesin
Virdenhappened.Coalminerswanttobetreatedbetterbyreceivinghigherwages,andsaferworking
environments.Theownerofthecompanydoesnotagree,andthecoalminersrebel.Beforethebattle,many
minersrallieduptoprotestandannouncethedemandsthattheyhopeforbutthecompanyoftheminesdecided
totakeanalternativerouteandhirestrikebreakers(peopleworkinginstrikes).Thebattlewasshortlived,lasting
onlyoneday.However,thiseventleadthecompanytoreevaluateandgivetheworkersamoresuitablecondition
toworkin.

3.RequiredforprojectsusingtheNationalHistoryDaythemeonly.
ExplainhowthisprojectintegratestheNHDthemeTakingaStandin[Chicago/IL]Historyintoitsargument.

ThisconnectstotheNHDthemebecausetakingastandforcoalminersdecisiononriotingandprotestingfora
betteroutcomefortheirhealthandjobisjustified.Coalminingcompaniestreatstheirworkersharshlyand
unsanitaryevenaftertheirworkersrequestedforachange.

4.PROCESS

A.W hathistoricalquestiondidyoustartoffwithandhowdiditchangeonceyoubegandoingyourresearch?
H owdidtheC oalminingcompanysdecisiontonotcooperatew iththeminerssooneraffectfuture

events?Afterresearchingmoreonthetopic,wegotabetterunderstandingthatthecoalcompanywas
tryingtoavoidthestrikesbyhavingAlabamianstaketheplaceoftheminers.

B.W hatkindsofsourcesdidyouuseasevidencetodevelopyourargument(forexample,letters,photographs,
governmentdocuments,interviews,etc.)?

Handdrawnandprimaryphotosofthecoalminesandworkers.Primarysourcesfromnewspapers,first
handstoryofminerworkingatthetimeperiod.Secondarysourcesofthedescriptionanddetailed
informationonthebattleofVirdenandthebeforeandaftereffects.

C.Selectonepieceofevidencethatyouusedandexplainhowitinfluencedyourargument.

OnthepageRoundingupariot,itstatesthatthecoalcompanywasrecruitingAfricanAmerican
strikebreakers.Iftheminersneverriotedandforcefullypushoutthetrainsfullofstrikebreakers,theywould
bestrikingforanextendedamountoftimesincepeoplewillbeworkinginthecoalminesevenastheexisting
workersstrike.

D.Listlibraries(otherthanschool),museums,andotherinstitutionsthatyouvisitedtodoyourresearch.
O
nlinew ebsitesthataretrustedandoffersaccurateinformationaboutthetopic.Therew erealso

copiesofnewspaperarticlesfromthewarthatincludeddetailedaccountsofthebattle.