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.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: Have the concepts of liberty, justice and/or equality changed during the time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsPR.6.a: Use a variety of sources from multiple perspectives to evaluate the effectiveness of Progressive reforms in preventing unfair business practices and political corruption and in promoting social justice.
Links to Lessons: Political Bosses | Digital Inquiry Group