Altgeld, John P., portrait photograph

Today in History: John Peter Altgeld

Today in History–December 30–the Library of Congress features politician John Peter Altgeld, born on this day in 1847. A lawyer, Altgeld served as a city attorney and a county prosecutor before serving on the bench of Cook County’s Superior Court from 1886 to 1891. In 1892 he was elected governor of Illinois. A progressive, Altgeld passed penal and legal…

The Anarchist Riot in Chicago - A Dynamite Bomb exploding among the police

Primary Source Learning: Chicago Anarchists & the Haymarket Affair

Overview Haymarket Affair Digital Collection—presents original manuscripts, broadsides, photographs, prints and artifacts regarding the Haymarket Affair, an 1886 conflict between labor protestors and members of the Chicago police force. Materials document the events leading up to the May 1886 riot, the arrest and trial of those accused of throwing a bomb that killed several police…

Practical illustration of the Fugitive Slave Law

Primary Source Spotlight: Fugitive Slave Law

Practical illustration of the Fugitive Slave Law Effects of the Fugitive-Slave-Law Triumph Fugitive slave law political cartoons Fugitive slave bill … Approved, September 18, 1850. Millard Fillmore Things to be remembered. Remember that the Whig administration of Millard Fillmore enacted the Fugitive Slave bill, in violation of the constitution and all the legal safeguards of…

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier

Primary Source Spotlight: Illinois Civil War Resources

Illinois Civil War books (1800-1929) Illinois Civil War sheet music Illinois Civil War maps Illinois Civil War image set More Illinois Civil War images Illinois soldier historic newspaper coverage (1860-65) “The Union. V. Illinois and Missouri Compared” Continental monthly: devoted to literature and national policy Volume 3, Issue 3, March 1863 YouTube videos Illinois During the Civil War,…

Poor Illinois!

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Poor Illinois!

Use the Primary Source Nexus search box to look for more information about the Haymarket anarchists. Describe and explain something that you discovered. Use the Primary Source Nexus search box to look for more information about Peter Altgeld. Describe and explain his relationship to the Haymarket anarchists. Read the story, “Bloody Battle at a Coal Mine” published…