Era 6: The Emergence of Modern America: Progressive Reforms (1890–1930)

Summary: This lesson introduces the issue of female suffrage with a role-play scenario and creative writing exercises. Students will develop a better understanding and appreciation of the women’s suffrage movement; compare and contrast the differences, goals and strategies between the National Woman's Party and the National Association for the Suffrage of Women; and recognize the role of war in helping implement the 19th amendment. Finally, students will explain the effects of the women’s...

Summary: Some historians have characterized Progressive reformers as generous and helpful. Others describe the reformers as condescending elitists who tried to force immigrants to accept Christianity and American identities. This lesson offers a structured academic controversy, in which students read documents written by reformers and by an immigrant to investigate American attitudes during the Progressive Era.

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Summary: This lesson considers the political bosses and machines that existed in New York City, Atlantic City and Jersey City in the early 1900s, as well as legislative efforts to eliminate political corruption. Students will be able to describe the structure of a political machine; explain the role and goals of a political boss; assess the importance of immigrants to political machines; and identify how political corruption and illegal activities developed. Finally, students will be asked to...

Summary: During the Progressive Era, muckraking journalists wrote articles attacking urban political bosses for corruption. The bosses defended themselves as public servants who had accomplished tremendous good for their constituents. In this lesson, students examine a political cartoon, a muckraker text, and the defense of a political boss to decide for themselves whether political bosses were corrupt.

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Summary: Lewis Hine shot hundreds of photographs that exposed the working conditions facing thousands of child laborers in the first two decades of the twentieth century. His powerful images shed light on a world largely hidden from most middle-class Americans and influenced public debate about child labor laws. This lesson asks students to think critically about Hine’s photographs and their usefulness as evidence of the past.

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Summary: This lesson explores the essential background and elements of two progressive era Supreme Court Cases: Lochner v. New York (1905) and Muller v. Oregon (1908). Over three days, students will prepare and execute two separate moot courts hearings. Students will be able to analyze complex legal arguments offered by attorneys, reformers, and Supreme Court Justices; apply constitutional interpretations to collaborate and create original legal opinions and rationales; role-play Supreme Court...

Summary: This lesson focuses student attention upon the history and role of racial violence in American history. Specifically, the lesson introduces students to the reasons behind racial violence, provides images of the violence, and to African-American and mainstream society's response to the violence. This lesson could be used to accompany a discussion of racial violence in any period though it is most useful for the post-Reconstruction to post-WWI period. In this lesson, students will...

Summary: This lesson explores the historical context, causes, progress and consequences of the Paterson Silk Strike in 1913. Students are asked to assess the late 19th century-early 20th century view of labor strikes or boycotts; compare the context in which labor disputes were resolved before and after the 1930s; and consider the roles of unions and government regarding American workers and the American economy today. Finally,students examine the demands of the striking silk workers and the...