Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition – 1909 Everett Massacre/Unions -1916

Question to Consider What exhibits would have interested your character at AYP?

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition 1909 Washington's first World's Fair opened on June 1, 1909, and closed on October 16, More than three million people visited the fair, which took place in Seattle on the University of Washington campus.

Court of Honor and Arctic Circle

Government Building Wax mannequins in surgery demonstration exhibit

Forestry Building

Agriculture Building

Hawaii Building

California Building Elephant constructed of walnuts

Alaska Building Gold!

Electric Lights

Geysers Used Hydraulics

Filipino Native Display

Eskimo Exhibit

Upside Down House

Vaudeville Acts on the Pay Streak

Esplanade at the Foot of the Pay Streak Midway

Fairy Gorge Tickler, a gravity- powered ride

Question to Consider: What exhibits would have interested your character? Take a few moments to jot down a few of the exhibits.

Possible Scrapbook Entry Write a postcard home to a friend describing your visit. Include how you got to the fair, who went with you, what exhibits you saw (at least three), and what the fair might mean to Washington. For the postcard face, draw one of your own or print one from the site.

Everett Massacre/Unions Washington’s Workers By 1900, most of the Northwest’s workers were young single males. Workers went from job to job. They earned wages in mines, logging camps, lumber mills, and farm fields and orchards.

Everett Massacre/Unions Capitalists were business owners who made money by hiring workers, usually at very low wages. It was workers against owners, poor against the rich. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies) wanted to overthrow capitalism. The IWW championed the concept of “One Big Union” and the overthrow of capitalism.

Everett Massacre/Unions Unlike other unions, the IWW welcomed women and African Americans. The union also gave dignity to unskilled workers who were barred from other unions. The “Wobblies” agreed to strike if necessary. Workers fought for the right to speak freely to bosses and government leaders to get safer working conditions and higher wages.

Everett Massacre/Unions Wobblies spoke on street corners and in public parks. Their “free speech fights” created much sympathy for their cause. In 1916 in Everett, a mill town north of Seattle, Wobblies were giving speeches criticizing World War I and capitalism.

Everett Massacre/Unions Many were arrested, then repeatedly beaten by police and vigilantes (men who take it upon themselves to punish criminals.) To give support, a boatload of nearly 300 more Wobblies landed at Everett. As they sang union songs and tried to get off the ship, they were met with gunfire. Five workers and two vigilantes were killed.

Everett Massacre/Unions Seventy-four Wobblies were charged with murder. After a trial, the defense showed that no one could tell who fired the first shot, and no guns were found on the ship. The Wobblies were freed.

Questions to Consider Where does your character live? What industry does he/she work in? Is it the kind that would unionize? What would be the benefits and disadvantages?

Possible Scrapbook Entries – Write a letter to the editor showing your opinion of the event. Include your opinion of the rights of the demonstrators and the actions of the officials. OR – Create a political cartoon that includes the protesters and the officials and shows your opinion of the event.