8th Grade Social Studies Bridge Unit
The links on this page will direct you to stand alone resource pages, or databases and encyclopedias, from which you can search for a specific articles. The suggested search terms are in quotes.
Impact of Railroads
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for the article, "Economic Effect of Railroads"
PBS American Experience: The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad
Encyclopedia Britannica (database) has a good background article on US railroad development, with related links, images and articles
search for "railroads" (then browse through topics within the article.)
Railroad Tycoons article
Thomas Edison
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for the article, "The Achievement of Thomas A. Edison"
Biography in Context (database)
search for "Thomas Edison"
From the Thomas Edison National Park in New Jersey, a few resources:
biographic summary
explanation of Edison's factory setup, and its role in popular culture
a collection of photos
There are many primary source documents and objects at the National Archive, as well as the Library of Congress, search for Edison by both names.
Jane Addams
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for the article, "Foreign-Born Children in the Primary Grades"
Biography in Context (database)
search for Jane Addams
Jane Addams background information in context of The Nobel Prize
PBS/American Experience/Chicago, City of the Century: Jane Addams, includes biographical information, some photos of Hull house, and more.
Child Labor
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for "Obstacles to Enforcing Child Labor Laws"
Primary source document, "Child Labor in the Canning Industry of Maryland, 1909, written by Lewis Hines, plus his collection of child labor Photographs
An overview of Child labor with links to primary sources
Child labor in factories, from Needham Public Schools
Sinking of the Lusitania
Firsthand account of sinking of the Lusitania, from Eyewitness to History
An overview of the sinking in 1915
The Lusitania Disaster, from American Memory Project at The Library of Congress:
An overview of the event, with consequences, from World History in Context (database)
search for "A German U-Boat Sinks the Lusitania"
Trench Warfare
Eyewitness to History, 1916 Gas Attack
Trenches: Symbol of Stalemate (from PBS' production, The Great War) includes videos and background information
World History in Context (database)
search for article, "Trench Warfare"
The New Deal/WPA
Overview of the New Deal, with time line and links to primary sources, from the Library of Congress
A Brief Overview of the WPA
American Experience: Surviving the Dustbowl background information on WPA
From US History in Context (database)
search for "Benefits of the WPA in Connecticut"
search for "Dorothea Lange"
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938 at the American Memory Project, provides the slaves' accounts, plus an overview of the project
Women's Changing Roles
From US History in Context (database), here is a topic guide for Women's roles during WWII
An overview, with photos and illustrations, from the National Women's History Museum
An account of women journalists during WWII, with individual correspondents, from Library of Congress
From the National Archives, information about women who served as pilots in WWII
Primary source documents related to WASPS, from the PBS documentary Fly Girls. Follow links for information on specific pilots,
timelines, maps, and more. This Women in the Military Library Guide provides a good overview, with potential research paths for the various roles women had during the war.
Industrialization: Henry Ford
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic, "Henry Ford" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "The Profit-Sharing Plan of the Ford Motor Company"
Progressive Era: Theodore Roosevelt
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic, "Theodore Roosevelt" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "Controlling the Trusts"
WWI: Woodrow Wilson
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic "Woodrow Wilson" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "Appeal for Neutrality"
Between the Wars: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic "Franklin D. Roosevelt" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "Call for Federal Responsibility"
Impact of Railroads
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for the article, "Economic Effect of Railroads"
PBS American Experience: The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad
Encyclopedia Britannica (database) has a good background article on US railroad development, with related links, images and articles
search for "railroads" (then browse through topics within the article.)
Railroad Tycoons article
Thomas Edison
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for the article, "The Achievement of Thomas A. Edison"
Biography in Context (database)
search for "Thomas Edison"
From the Thomas Edison National Park in New Jersey, a few resources:
biographic summary
explanation of Edison's factory setup, and its role in popular culture
a collection of photos
There are many primary source documents and objects at the National Archive, as well as the Library of Congress, search for Edison by both names.
Jane Addams
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for the article, "Foreign-Born Children in the Primary Grades"
Biography in Context (database)
search for Jane Addams
Jane Addams background information in context of The Nobel Prize
PBS/American Experience/Chicago, City of the Century: Jane Addams, includes biographical information, some photos of Hull house, and more.
Child Labor
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for "Obstacles to Enforcing Child Labor Laws"
Primary source document, "Child Labor in the Canning Industry of Maryland, 1909, written by Lewis Hines, plus his collection of child labor Photographs
An overview of Child labor with links to primary sources
Child labor in factories, from Needham Public Schools
Sinking of the Lusitania
Firsthand account of sinking of the Lusitania, from Eyewitness to History
An overview of the sinking in 1915
The Lusitania Disaster, from American Memory Project at The Library of Congress:
An overview of the event, with consequences, from World History in Context (database)
search for "A German U-Boat Sinks the Lusitania"
Trench Warfare
Eyewitness to History, 1916 Gas Attack
Trenches: Symbol of Stalemate (from PBS' production, The Great War) includes videos and background information
World History in Context (database)
search for article, "Trench Warfare"
The New Deal/WPA
Overview of the New Deal, with time line and links to primary sources, from the Library of Congress
A Brief Overview of the WPA
American Experience: Surviving the Dustbowl background information on WPA
From US History in Context (database)
search for "Benefits of the WPA in Connecticut"
search for "Dorothea Lange"
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938 at the American Memory Project, provides the slaves' accounts, plus an overview of the project
Women's Changing Roles
From US History in Context (database), here is a topic guide for Women's roles during WWII
An overview, with photos and illustrations, from the National Women's History Museum
An account of women journalists during WWII, with individual correspondents, from Library of Congress
From the National Archives, information about women who served as pilots in WWII
Primary source documents related to WASPS, from the PBS documentary Fly Girls. Follow links for information on specific pilots,
timelines, maps, and more. This Women in the Military Library Guide provides a good overview, with potential research paths for the various roles women had during the war.
Industrialization: Henry Ford
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic, "Henry Ford" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "The Profit-Sharing Plan of the Ford Motor Company"
Progressive Era: Theodore Roosevelt
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic, "Theodore Roosevelt" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "Controlling the Trusts"
WWI: Woodrow Wilson
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic "Woodrow Wilson" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "Appeal for Neutrality"
Between the Wars: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Biography in Context (database)
search for topic "Franklin D. Roosevelt" for a variety of articles
Britannica Annals of American History (database)
search for article, "Call for Federal Responsibility"