Digital History
Digital History: Samuel Gompers and the American Federation of Labor
A good look at not only Samuel Gompers and the formation of the American Federation of Labor, but also of the course of unionism in general, its successes and failures, its goals, and membership in the late 19th century.
Other
Key People in Labor History: Asa Philip Randolph (1889 1979)
Biographical essay on A. Philip Randolph, one of the organizers of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He was also very active in civil rights and the movement to end discrimination in the military and defense industries.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Knights of Labor
Learn interesting details about the Knights of Labor, the first major American labor union to be established.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Americans and the Great War 1914 1919: A New Home Front
World War I changed the configuration of the workforce and organized labor took the opportunity to strengthen its power base. This section looks at the impact of these changes on women and African Americans, as well as how the women's...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Spotlight Biography: Labor Reformers
Biographical information on Samuel Gompers, Frances Perkins and Cesar Chavez. All three were inspirations for the labor union movement.
Other
Apri: Biographical Notes, A. Philip Randolph 1889 1979
An in-depth biography on A. Philip Randolph gives details about his family, childhood, and his life dedicated to the fight for civil, labor, and human rights.
Social Studies Help Center
Social Studies Help Center: The Labor Union Movement in America
Discusses the Labor Union Movement in America from its origins in the 1700's.
Digital History
Digital History: Viva La Raza!
This Digital History site provides an informative overview of the Mexican American civil rights movement in America.
Other
Carlos Bulosan Memorial Exhibit
Learn about writer Carlos Bulosan and the experience of Filipino immigrants to the U.S. (focused on those in the Seattle area). Also provides profiles on Filipino labor leaders.
Curated OER
History Matters: Parsons Responds to Powderly
Read an excerpt from a letter written by Chicago radical and Haymarket defendant, Albert Parsons, to the "Chicago Times" concerning Terence V. Powderly and the Haymarket riot. Also links to other related sites.
University of Arizona
Pulse: Industrialization, Chemicals and Human Health
While students gain an understand of basic environmental toxicology, they explore the health impacts of industrialization on society in these lessons. This is a cross curricular unit that addresses standards for eleventh grade in math,...
Other
Choate Rosemary Hall: Trade Unions
A brief description of how labor unions emerged from the Industrial Revolution.
Other
Afscme: "I've Been to the Mountaintop" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learn about the the events of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike which drew Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis, which is where he was soon to be assassinated. Excellent source of primary sources and first hand accounts of the...
Digital History
Digital History: Sources of Discontent
After World War Two, many women placed a higher priority on marriage and having a family. However, this trend changed during the 1950s and by 1960 more women were attending college, working outside of the home, marrying later, and having...