Course Overview

This material is a short introduction to the fourteen-week course Leaders & Landmark Events of 20th Century American Labor History.  The course examines the lives and influence of key labor leaders over the past hundred years, as well as landmark events and locations that are critical to labor's story. You do not need any prior knowledge of labor history to start the course.  We do believe, however, that after viewing this introductory material, you will have an understanding of what is meant by a "landmark" of labor and have an interest in knowing more about the lives of labor's leaders and their influence and contribution to today's society.

The course content is divided into several historical eras.  In each era, a short narrative is first presented that describes a labor leader or a unique labor landmark event.  The narrative introduces a theme, which is connected to other topics throughout the era.  You will read in-depth journal articles, most of which have appeared over the past 17 years in Labor's Heritage, an illustrated magazine of history and culture.  You will also explore the Internet for historical material and learn to differentiate between valuable and worthless information.

This course will give you the opportunity to experience labor’s history in the past century.  One of the first leaders of American labor was Samuel Gompers.  In his experiences at a cigar work site, his discourses with fellow workers helped mold him into one of the great leaders of American labor.  In your first readings, you will meet Samuel Gompers and the memories of his classroom of the 1870s.