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Lesson Plan, Activity :

Lesson Plan, Activity Asian American Labor Stories: Ah Quon Mcgrath, Larry Itliong, and Chinese Railroad Workers

  • Grade Level 9th-12th Grade
  • Time Period Late 1800s
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Introduction

This high school lesson explores the overlooked contributions of Asian American labor leaders like Ah Quon McGrath, Larry Itliong, and Chinese railroad workers within the broader history of the U.S. labor movement. Through case studies, primary sources, and group activities, students examine how these individuals and communities organized for workers’ rights under racially and economically challenging conditions. The lesson highlights themes of solidarity, exclusion, and resilience, inviting students to analyze why certain labor leaders are erased from mainstream narratives and how diverse movements have shaped labor reform in America.

Essential Questions

  • What are some of the underlying conditions that prompt labor activists to seek change and reform in how workers are treated in American history?

  • Why are some important figures not given their due for their contributions to the labor movement in American history?