Benjamin Franklin Fairless

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/benjamin-franklin-fairless

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Benjamin Franklin Fairless born?May 3, 1890
2. When did Benjamin Franklin Fairless die?January 1, 1962
3. What is the labor stance?Recognized for his relatively progressive stance on unionization within the steel industry
4. Who was Benjamin Franklin Fairless?Benjamin Franklin Fairless was a top leader in the American steel industry, heading U.S. Steel from 1938 to 1955. He helped build many important structures in the United States.
5. What did he do during World War II?He helped the United States make more steel for tanks, ships, and planes, breaking production bottlenecks. For this work he received the Medal for Merit in 1946.

Industrial Consolidation: The process where smaller companies merge to form larger, more powerful corporations, common in the early 20th century.
Labor Unions: Organizations formed by workers to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Medal for Merit: A high civilian award presented by the United States for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of duty.
Production Bottlenecks: Points in a manufacturing process where the flow of goods is restricted, slowing down overall production.