graph Raising the Floor
This step
graph shows the
changes to the
federal minimum
wage that have
taken place since
1963. Look at the
vertical line above
each labeled year
to see how much
the wage jumped
that year.
The wages
on this graph
represent
actual dollars
paid. For the
inflation-adjusted
value of the
minimum wage
over time, go to
upfrontmagazine.
com.
p. 8
$8.00
$7.25
$7.00
$6.55
$6.00
$5.85
$5.15
$5.00
$4.75
$4.25
$4.00
$3.80
$3.35
$3.10
$2.90
$2.65
$2.30
$2.10
$2.00
$3.00
$2.00
$1.25
$1.60
$1.40
$1.00
2007
2008
2009
1996
1997
1990
1991
1978
1979
1980
1981
1974
1975
1976
1967
1968
$0
1963
n his 2013 State of
the Union address,
President Obama asked
Congress to raise the
federal minimum wage
from $7.25 to $9 per
hour, sparking a national
debate (see article, p. 8).
But the fuss is hardly
new. When Franklin D.
Roosevelt signed the
first minimum wage
into law in 1938, he
saw the measure as a
way to ensure workers
were paid fairly. His
critics argued it would
constrain employers and
cripple the economy.
Since then, the minimum
wage has been
increased 22 times—
each time provoking
both cheers and jeers.
FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE (RATE PER HOUR)
YEAR
analyze the graph
1 The first federal
minimum wage
was 25 cents
per hour. The
minimum wage
passed in 1963
was ____.
a half that rate
b double that
rate
c three times
that rate
d five times that
rate
2 In 1990, the
federal minimum
wage ____.
a did not change
b jumped from
$3.35 to $3.80
c jumped from
$3.80 to $4.25
d was a quarter
of what it is
today
3 Since 1963, the
most the federal
minimum wage
has increased at
once is ____.
a
b
c
d
55 cents
70 cents
85 cents
$1.00
4 Since 1963, the
5
longest the federal
minimum wage
has gone without
an increase is
____.
a
b
c
d
four years
five years
10 years
12 years
I f calculated in
2012 dollars,
the value of the
minimum wage
passed in 1968
was $3.25 greater
than today’s
minimum wage.
You can infer that
the 1968 wage
was worth ____ in
2012 dollars.
a
b
c
d
about $10.50
about $12.25
about $14.75
about $15.50
discussion questions
1 Do you think the federal minimum wage should be changed every year or so to keep up with inflation? Why or why not?
Based on the graph, do you think there have been times when the federal government tried to do that?
2 New Zealand has a “youth wage,” a minimum wage for teens that is 20 percent lower than the regular minimum wage.
In the U.S. employers can pay teens a lower wage ($4.25 per hour)—but only for their first 90 days of employment.
What do you think is the rationale behind such policies? Do you think the U.S. should adopt a “youth wage” like New
Zealand’s? Why or why not?
3 How does President Obama’s proposed minimum wage hike compare with the increases to the minimum wage since 1963?
4
How do you think raising the minimum wage to $9 per hour would affect the nation’s unemployment rate? Why?
U p f r o n t • w w w. u p f r o n t m a g a z i n e . c o m
april 1, 2013
source: United States Department of labor
Uses: copy machine, opaque projector, or transparency master for overhead projector. Scholastic Inc. grants teacher-subscribers to The New York Times Upfront permission to reproduce this Skills Sheet for use in their classrooms. ©2013 by Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.
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