US Labor History

4 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The Industrial Revolution is often a staple of history survey courses. But what about the people who worked in the factories, dug the coal to fire industrial machines, and operated the trains that carried the new products far and wide? What about their families that made up the working-class communities that surrounded the centers of industry? What about the movement workers formed to fight for their rights but too often excluded immigrants, people of color, and women? As a US working-class history course, we will explore the events, homes, work spaces, and cultures of different groups of working people to understand their historical experiences and what prompted many to rise up in the attempt to improve their lives and seek greater justice. Because of the vastness of this topic, the course will be representative rather than exhaustive. The bulk of the class will extend from the mid-19th century through the middle of the twentieth century.