Curated OER
Triangle Fire and Labor Movement
Tenth graders, in groups, explore the garment industry before, during, and after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire to learn about the Labor Movement, unions, and some of the people who impacted working conditions for both adults and children...
Curated OER
The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement (2)
For this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 10 multiple choice questions regarding big business and the labor movement. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Labor Matters
Students examine the labor movement. For this labor issues lesson, students discuss the role of labor organizations and research their beginnings in order to better understand the debate over the Employee Free Choice Act.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: Alice Henry: The Trade Union Woman
Excerpt from the Preface to Alice Henry's book, The Trade Union Woman (1915) in which Henry argues for regulation of wages and working conditions for women. Link to the entire book.
Other
Anarchy Archives: Emma Goldman's Collected Works
Read the book "Anarchism and Other Essays" here on this site. Includes a biographical sketch of Goldman and several essays pertaining to women's rights.
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Historical Society: The Dramas of Haymarket
The Chicago Historical Society presents extensive information about the 1886 bombing at Haymarket Square that helped change the course of the labor movement. Read about the bombing, arrests, trial, executions, and other events that...
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.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Transformation in North 1800 50: Early Industrialization Northeast
Examines the transformation of work from artisan-centered to a mechanized workforce. Looks at the emergence of industrialization and the impact it had on production and on the worker experience, the development of the consumer society,...
Other
New York University: Labor Arts
Numerous collections of cartoons, buttons, posters, murals, photographs, and similar artifacts, all pertaining to history of American labor, especially its drive to organize and its history of protest. Stretches back to the earliest days...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Cesar Chavez: Labor Leader and Civil Rights Activist
Students will watch a short video and examine two primary sources in order to understand how Chavez was able to successfully organize a movement among some of America's poorest and most oppressed workers.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: City of Immigrants
Players navigate New York's Lower East Side as Lena, a young Jewish immigrant from Russia who is trying to save money to bring her parents to America. She works long hours in a factory for little money and gets caught up in the growing...
Library of Congress
Loc: Labor Unions During the Great Depression and New Deal
This learning page features an overview of labor relations during the 1930s with links to many primary source documents from the era.
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.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: American Industrial Revolution
Aimed at middle school teachers and students, this resource contains lists of labor links. It includes a brief history of strikes, the Knights of Labor and the AFL.
New York University
Nyu: Labor & the Holocaust: The Jewish Labor Committee
Resource traces the Jewish Labor Committee from its inception in American labor history, through its anti-Nazi work during WW II.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Emma Goldman
Tells the story of a young, brilliant, Russian immigrant who taunted mainstream America with her outspoken attacks on government, big business, and war.
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.
Other
Labor Arts: Solidarity Forever: A Look at Wobbly Culture
An excellent collection of artifacts that highlight the aims and aspirations of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Members of the IWW, known as Wobblies, played a unique role in the American labor movement. Artifacts include...
Other
The Industrial Revolution: Changes in Society
A guided website which covers the major aspects of the Industrial Revolution from about 1750 until 1830. Areas such as industry, agriculture are explored.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: "Mother" Mary Harris Jones
The National Women's Hall of Fame recognizes the important and influential life work of the famous labor organizer and worker's rights activist "Mother" Jones.
Other
Key People in Labor History: Mother Jones (1837 1930)
Once called "the most dangerous woman in America", Mary Harris "Mother" Jones was one of the great organizers of the labor and union movements.
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.
University of Iowa
Child Labor in u.s. History
Article that summarizes the history of child labor in the United States with a timeline of events that occurred in the U.S. labor movement and with child labor reform from 1832 up to 1938 and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Provides links...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Emma Goldman
This Britannica biography provides a brief, objective view of Emma Goldman's (1869-1940 CE) political life. Includes additional reading references.