Link to Teacher Page

Introduction

In May, you will be taking the AP U.S. History exam. A large part of that exam will be a Document Based Question about a topic from the 1875 -1925 time frame. In order to know and understand this time period, each group will examine a topic from the period in close detail and presenting that information for the class. In addition, each student will also be required to do independent research about a subtopic of his or her main topic.

The Task

The students will learn

• to access Internet sites
• to work successfully with a group
• to use primary source documents
• to distinguish relevant information pertinent to the topic
• to recognize relationships among the topics
• to organize, analyze, synthesize, and write
• to produce the finished product with these required elements:
  • an outline of the information in PowerPoint, a typed hand-out, or an overhead transparency (with group)
  • a visual/audio component (with group)
  • a 3-5 page paper relating the specific topic studied. Each student must have a different sub-topic for his or her paper. (individually)

Resources

Internet Resources: 1875 - 1925 

 

General Information

• Websites for the Gilded Age and Progressive Era (U.S. History, 1865-1920)
• H-SHGAPE -Information on various topics from this period
• The Gilded Age WebQuest: Documenting Industry in America

 

Social and Cultural

• PAL: Harlem Renaissance: A Brief Introduction
• 94.04.05: Nativist and Racist Movements in the U.S. and their Aftermath 

 

The West

• WestWeb: Western History Resource

 

Business & Industry

• nmah sweatshop exhibition -- history section
• Westinghouse Works Home Page
• The History Place - Child Labor in America
• The Rise of Industrialism [ROI] 

 

Political Leaders

• The Drawing's of Thomas Nast
• Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States. 1989. Rutherford B. Hayes: Inaugural Address.
• TheHistoryNet: Picture of the Day: January 29 -Compromise of 1877
• Electoral Commission -Election of 1877
• Alexander Graham Bell -and his connection with the death of President Garfield
• Canal History -Theodore Roosevelt's role in the building of the Panama Canal 

 

Immigration

• How the Other Half Lives -Jacob Riis
• Ellis Island
• Port of Entry 

 

World War I

• The Great War Society 1914-1918
• The World War I Document Archive 

 

Reform

• The Emma Goldman Papers (DL SunSITE)
• General Federation of Women's Clubs - Women's History and Resource Center (WHRC)
• Margaret Sanger Papers Project: Home Page
• Votes for Women: 1850-1920
• The Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
• nmah sweatshop exhibition -- history section
• Westinghouse Works Home Page
• How the Other Half Lives
• The History Place - Child Labor in America
• The Greenback-Labor Party
• Upton Sinclair & the EPIC Plan
• Chap 2 Hist 2
• Pure Food and Drugs Act

Other Resources

• William Bruce Becker and Susan D. Wheeler, Discovering the American Past: A Look at the Evidence. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1994)
• Frederick Lewis Allen, Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's. (New York: Harper & Row Perennial Library)
• Carol Hymowitz and Michelle Weissman, History of Women. (New York: Bantam Books, 1978)

The Process

1. You will be assigned to one of the seven groups.
2. Your group will be assigned a major topic area with several sub-topics (some groups may overlap):
   • Political Leaders
     • Presidents
     • William Jennings Bryan
     • City Machines
       • Boss Tweed
       • Thomas Nast
   • Social & Cultural
     • Arts
       • Music, Literature, Architecture
     • Nativism
       • Ku Klux Klan
       • Anti-immigration
       • Ida B. Wells & anti-lynching
     • Poverty
       • Jacob Riis
       • Daily life
   • The West
     • Frederick Jackson Turner
     • Native American Wars
     • Railroads
     • Homesteading
     • Ranching
     • Mining
   • Reform
     • Women's suffrage
     • Food & drugs
     • Conservation
     • Prohibition
     • Labor
       • child labor
       • unions
       • sweat shops
       • legislation
   • Business & Industry
     • Movers & shakers
     • Inventions & technology
     • Criticism & praise
   • Immigration
     • Laws
     • Ellis Island
     • "New Immigration"
   • World War I
     • Causes
     • Soldiers
     • Homelife
     • Treaty of Versailles
     • League of Nations
3. Once you have the area, you will, within the group, decide on a sub-topic to research.
4. Using Internet resources, books, the library sources, you will research your sub-topic.
5. Each group will produce a multimedia presentation to the class that will include: an outline of the information in PowerPoint, Claris works, or an overhead transparency --example--summary table, concept.
6. Each student will write a three to five page paper about his or her sub-topic--the paper will include a bibliography.

Evaluation

Your present evaluation will based on a grading rubric for each topic. See Grading Rubric.

The ULTIMATE EVALUATION will be your score on the college board Advanced Placement United States History exam in May 2000!

Conclusion

The goal of this WebQuest is for you to have knowledge, a deeper understanding, and an appreciation of the 1875-1925 era in United States History. Not only will you be successful on the Advanced Placement exam, but also, you will have insight into the throes of change and impact these years had in our history.