U.S. Labour History
Michael J. Swogger
Latest Articles
Slavery Series: An Introduction
This articles begins a series on American slavery, providing an introduction to the topic and an overview of what lies ahead. A series bibliography is also included.
The Triangle Fire of 1911, Part 2
The second of Bailey Lowenthal's two-part article on New York's 1911 tragedy, the Triangle Shirtwaiste Fire.
New York's Tragedy: The Triangle Fire of 1911, Part 1
This piece, dealing with the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911, was written as a term paper by a former student of mine. The first of two parts, this article centers on the pre-fire labor issues and events that place the terrible tragedy into proper context. David Von Drehle's excellent work, ...
Rollback America: Wal-Mart Undermines Workers' Rights
An indictment of Wal-Mart's efforts to undermine unionizing efforts and reduce the standard of living of its employees in the name of "selling for less."
The Legacy of Bacon's Rebellion
This article details the events of 1675-76 that culminated into what is now known as Bacon's Rebellion. A look into the legal and societal effects and long term legacy of this event is examined as well.
This article gives attention to the labor aspects of the American Revolution, focusing on the contribution of urban workers, farmers, slaves, and women to the Revolutionary cause.
The Foundation of Europe's New World
A detailed piece about how integral the labor systems were to colonial America. Discussed are the three main sources of labor in what would become the United States: the American Indian, indentured servants, and African slaves.
They Won Big: The 1937 Woolworth Strike, Part II
The second of the two-part article series on this dramatic saga of seemingly powerless women overpowering one of the most powerful companies in the country.
They Won, And They Won Big: The Woolworth Strike of 1937, Part One
The first of two articles written by Melissa Corn, a former student of mine, on the dramatic girls strike at Woolworth's in 1937. This first piece describes the origins of the strike and its first days. Part two will deal with the last days of the one-week event and the results, ...
Depression and War: The Myth Of Laissez-Faire in American History, Part IV
The final article in the Laissez-faire series describing the transformation of the American economy from the Crash of '29 to the end of World War II.