Were unfair taxes really the cause of the American Revolution? Learners explore the complicated historiography behind the revolutionary period using authentic College Board prompts. The free-response questions from the exam feature...

Students investigate the events that created the historical context for the Progressive Era in the United States. They evaluate the conflicts of business and common people of the time. The research is done using primary and secondary...

The strategies civil rights activists Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois proposed for blacks to achieve racial progress is the focus of an activity in which class groups identify the strategies as well as the benefits and drawbacks...

Eleventh graders explore the Progressive Era in American history (1900-1917). They use the internet and other sources to research the Progressive Movement, identify three Progressive presidents, and explore considered reforms. Students...

The stories of bodies falling to the pavement and girls dying in their seats echo to the present day. The New York City Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—which killed 147 people, mostly young women and girls—galvanized the labor movement...

Lynchings, race riots, and Jim Crow laws were just a few examples of antagonism that African Americans faced after Emancipation. Class groups investigate these and other events, and prepare a presentation to inform the class about...

Willa Cather's My Antonia might seem like a hard sell for today's teen readers. Rather than dramatic plot twists, trysts, and terrors, the novel celebrates the pioneer spirit that lead immigrants to a small Nebraska town. The Signet...

Eleventh graders consider the case for Progressive politics. In this Progressive Era lesson, 11th graders read excerpts from The Jungle as well as articles about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Students also analyze images...

Covering the main events of the Cold War, this (mistitled) presentation includes photographs, political cartoons, and amusing graphics to illustrate its points. The information on the slides is helpful for an overview of the Cold War,...

Students examine maps showing the hog and corn distribution of the United States. In groups, they research the reasons why Chicago became the natural hub for meat-packing processing in the United States. They examine changes in...

How can primary sources bring history to life? Scholars create detailed lesson plans on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in American history. The 17th installment of a 22-part program exploring American history examines...

Eleventh graders explore American government reform. In this Progressive Era lesson plan, 11th graders read about the Era in their textbooks and in the provided handouts. Students then create group presentations and write essays on the...

What do a photo of Abraham Lincoln, a map for the Battle of Antietam, and the Dred Scott decision all have in common? Learners consider the broader question as they examine documents related to civil rights during the Civil War and...

Students discuss muckraking and societal changes. In this progressive era lesson, students review photographs and read excerpts from The Jungle. Students select a task of their choice, sorting events into categories, writing a letter,...

In this Progressive Era worksheet, learners review a chapter as they read 10 descriptions identifying who or what is speaking, respond to 4 short answer questions, and explain a historical theme regarding this time period in United...

What kind of treatment could a patient expect in an asylum during the 1800's? The abusive and neglectful conditions in 19th century asylums are the focus of a lesson that examines the work of reformers Nellie Bly, Dorothea Dix, and...

A 15-page packet includes detailed plans for three activities related to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. To gather background information, class members research topics and create a newspaper page reporting their findings. After finishing...

High schoolers study the Progressive Era. They identify the important people, places, and evens of the Era and determine how women influenced the progressive movement. In addition, they create an article to address issues related to the...

How far in the past do the roots of Jim Crow and segregation extend? Young historians closely consider this question using detailed PowerPoint slides as a basis for discussion rather than lecture, culminating in an activity where class...

Students examine pieces of sheet music and identify context, purpose, and perspective with regard to the political, social, and economic conditions existing at that time. They create a cover illustrating a topic of the Progressive Era.

Seventh graders experience what life was like in the factories during the Gilded Age. They explore the reasons behind the move for work place reforms during the Progressive Era. Students discuss the factors that led to work place reforms.

Eighth graders examine the impact of the Progressive Era on the state of North Carolina. Using primary source documents, they discover the reason for the creation of schools during this time period. After reading news articles, they...

Sometimes images tell shocking stories. Individuals examine a Lewis Hines picture of children packing beans and consider the impact working in a factory had on their young lives. A series of prompts emailed to the teacher helps them...

A comprehension check uses multiple-choice and essay questions for a balanced examination concepts in both US History and government. The test covers a variety of topics, including British mercantilism, the Monroe Doctrine, and the...