Curated OER
Celebrate May Day this Spring
Welcome spring as you explore various traditions for celebrating May Day.
Curated OER
Handout 4C: Reflection UFW Today
How has the UFW or United Farm Workers labor union changed? Learners go to the website and explore several articles and specific legislative actions currently in place today. The activity includes answers and a web link, and will allow...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Labor & Capital
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Industrialization: Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor
Learn about the lives of the working class in Industrial America, what led to the formation of labor unions, and why labor unions were not successful despite strike actions.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Msu Libraries: Digital Collections: i.w.w.
Primary source documents related to the Industrial Workers of the World, a labor union that grew out of the effects of industrialization on the workforce. All materials can be downloaded.
Cato Institute
Cato Institute: Global Competition Meets the New Deal
This article gives you information on what laws are, and facts about the global economy. Specifically, it discusses whether or not quality circles are illegal, and how global competition relates to the New Deal. (Date of Article: Feb....
Other
Ufw: Dolores Huerta
A lengthy and detailed biography of Dolores Huerta who has spent her life championing the rights of farmworkers.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The Homestead Strike
This collection uses primary sources to explore the Homestead Strike.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History Period 6: 1865 1898: Quiz
This practice exercise from Khan Academy covers Period 6: 1865-1898 in American History. The Gilded Age is reviewed in this resource. This resource is designed as a review for the AP US History Test.
US Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Work Stoppages Involving 1,000 or More Workers
A listing of all work stoppages in 2012 which have involved at least 1,000 workers. Plant name, city, unions, and start and end dates of strike are given.
University of California
Uc Berkeley: Emma Goldman's Published Essays and Pamphlets: Samuel Gompers [Pdf]
An essay dedicated to Samuel Gompers, founder of the American Federation of Labor, written by Emma Goldman and published in 1925.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: President Franklin D. Roosevelt
This companion to the PBS series surveys the career of the longest-serving president in U.S. history and leader through the Great Depression and World War II.
Other
Encyclopedia of Chicago: Congress of Industrial Organizations
A good summary of the establishment of the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the reasons why John L. Lewis founded it. Read about the roadblocks unskilled and semi-skilled labor overcame to organize.
Other
The South Carolina Education Association
This state affiliate of the National Education Association provides information on the organization, its membership and benefits, and legislative initiatives.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Looks at the garment factory industry in the 1800s and the early part of the 20th century, where workers toiled in sweatshop conditions. After a terrible fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in 1911, labor unions gained support in...
Other
Industrial Workers of the World: Baristas Demand Guaranteed Work Hours
This story documents the struggle of workers at Starbucks Coffee in New York City to get more guaranteed hours per week. (Nov. 18, 2005)
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: How Labor Got Its Day
If you asked students what comes to mind first when they think of Labor Day, what do you think they would say? The last days of summer? A family picnic? Shopping the Labor Day sales? The purpose of this lesson is to broaden and deepen...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Work, Earnings and Economics: Using Lyddie by Katherine Paterson
In reading and discussing Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, students examine basic economic concepts and explore the growth of labor unions and the role of government in a market economy.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: The Rise of Labor
The Industrial Revolution led to a demand for laborers to keep up with the demands for the creation of products. The slideshow illustrates how the labor force grew and adjusted during the early twentieth century and the impact of labor...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Cesar Chavez
Learn about this leader who helped bring many important changes for farm workers in the U.S. Following the peaceful examples of King and Ghandi, Cesar Chavez helped much needed improvements take place.
Other
Ukraine: Rights Are Not Given, They Are Taken
Stories of Ukrainian workers and their struggles to fight for good working conditions as the country tries to break away from its communist past. (Date of Article: March 2004)
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Worker Safety the Triangle Fire Legacy
Learners investigate the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire tragedy and how its impact is still felt today. Students identify eerie parallels between the Triangle Fire and more recent workplace events with safety implications. How can future...
Seymour Brody
Jewish Heroes in America: Samuel Gompers
Use this site to learn about this former president of The American Federation of Labor, who was a leader in the labor movement in the early 1900s.
Other
The Farmworkers' Website: Los Braceros (1942 1964)
Comprehensive and well-developed site that provides a variety of information about migrant farm workers, working conditions and failed legislation to remedy the problems. Excellent resource.