A People's History homepage
Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Stories

Black people's support of the miners' strike of 1984-85

The remarkable story of Black and Asian solidarity on and off the picket lines in the 1984-85 miners' strike.
Leaflet calling for Black community support for striking miners and advertising a solidarity visit to Kent mining villages during the 1984-85 miners' strike. An image of a miner looking determined is printed in red on the left hand side.
American Revolution Stories

Macaulay and the American Revolution

Historian reacts to the American Revolution.
Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Stories

'The most dangerous man in Britain'

The gripping story of an MP's radicalism, persecution and outspoken commitment to working class rights during the General Strike.
A historical black-and-white studio portrait of an Indian man with dark hair, a high forehead, and a slight smile. He is dressed in formal early-20th-century clothing, including a dark jacket, a white stiff collar shirt, and a wide silk or satin tie. The picture has a coarse, half-tone printing texture typical of old newspaper archival clippings.
Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Stories

The women who sustained the miners' strike

The extraordinary story of women's activism in sustaining the miners' long, cold lockout after the General Strike of 1926.
A grainy, archival black and white photograph showing a group of seven women standing together outdoors. They wear hats and coats typical of the 1920s. Two women on the outer edges hold large sandwich-board style signs, while others hold smaller signs and canisters for donations. The visible text on the signs reads
General Strike Stories

The workers who derailed the Flying Scotsman

The iconic story of the derailment of the Flying Scotsman train during the 1926 General Strike, told through the perspective of the miners who made it happen.

A vintage, sepia-toned studio photograph with a worn, aged border. The portrait shows a young man with combed hair, dressed in a formal dark three-piece suit, white collared shirt, and pattern-knotted tie. A pocket watch chain hangs across his waistcoat, and a pocket square peaks out from his jacket pocket. He stands against a mottled, painted nature backdrop, resting his left hand on the back of a wicker chair.
Gender Equality Stories

Why be a wife? Mary McIntosh and the Fifth Demand of the Women's Liberation Movement

Read this article on Mary McIntosh and the Fifth Demand of the women's liberation movement to strengthen your teaching of women's rights in Britain and marriage as a legal institution.
A top-down photograph of a circular pin-back badge with a solid magenta-pink background. Bold, sans-serif white text is arranged vertically in the center to spell out
Campaigns for racial equality Stories

Elizabeth Anionwu and Sickle Cell Disease

Use this article on sickle cell disease to inform your teaching of Black and global majority rights in 20th century Britain.

Campaigns for racial equality Stories

The Huntleys and the Black Education Movement

Use this article on the Black Education Movement to inform your teaching of Black and global majority rights and protest in 20th century Britain.

A candid black-and-white classroom photograph. On the left, an older Black man with grey hair, a mustache, and a light-colored V-neck sweater leans forward over a wooden desk. He points with a pen to a page in an open textbook, guiding two young Black schoolboys sitting next to him. The boys, both wearing sweaters, look intently down at the textbook, listening closely. A black pen rests on the table in the foreground, and a blank blackboard stretches across the background wall.
Gender Equality Stories

Stella Dadzie and the Organisation of Women of Asian and African Descent  

Deepen your teaching of the fight for women's rights and Black and global majority rights in Britain with this story on Black women's activist groups in 20th century Britain.
A medium shot of an older Black woman sitting in a chair, appearing to speak while smiling during an interview. She has her hair styled in a high, curly updo with grey streaks. She is wearing a long-sleeved, color-blocked sweater in shades of grey, black, and olive green, layered gold necklaces, and earrings. Her hands are clasped in her lap. The background is a softly blurred indoor setting with a large glass-paned door on the left and an exhibition banner on the right.
Campaigns for racial equality Stories

Before Grunwick: Immigrant Workers’ Strikes in Britain 

This article offers a longer history of strikes by global majority workers in Britain to show your students that the solidarity seen at Grunwick was hard-won and by no means guaranteed.  
Black and white photograph of an older South Asian woman smiling and raising a clenched fist in solidarity. She holds a large, handwritten protest sign stating
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