Unit 1
The Emergence of Modern America, 1900 – 1920
Overview:
What is the proper role of government? What role should the U.S. play in a changing world? What are rights? Who should have them and why? Can the United States adjust to the changes introduced by immigration, industrialization, and urbanization and maintain its commitment to democracy?
These questions dominated the political discourse of the nation one hundred years ago, and we continue to debate them today. As a future voter and active participant in our nation’s political life, you will need to arrive at an answers to these question for yourself. The answers you arrive at this semester may not be the answers that you will give in ten, twenty or even thirty years. That’s to be expected. Your ideas should develop and change as you grow older, have new experiences, and learn more information. The goal of this unit is to help you understand the origins of these debates at the turn of the 20th century.
Unit Topics
Topic #1: The Progressive Era
Day 1: What was the nature of progressivism?
Day 2: What kinds of conditions/developments in U.S. society prompted this reform movement?
Day 3: Progressive Round Table Discussion
Day 4 & Day 5: Seminar Discussion: After the Fact, “USDA Inspected”
Read your response paragraphs here. | Read our notes from class discussion here.
Day 6: How did the progressive presidents envision the role of government? the office of the presidency? What impact did they make in both areas?
Day 7: Were the progressives a unified group? In-Class DBQ—View our skeletal essays here.
Day 8: Test
Topic #2: American Expansion Overseas
Sept. 19 (d3): When or under what conditions should the US use it’s military power?
Sept. 20 (d4): Causes of American Expansion: The Changing Context of the 20th Century
Sept. 21 (d5): Seminar Discussion, “The Empire and the People”
Read our notes from the discussion here.
Sept. 25 (d7): Visual Representations of U.S. Foreign Policy
Sept. 26 (d1): Wrap-Up Discussion
Topic #3: World War I
Sept. 27 (d2): Why did the U.S. Enter World War I? Persuasive Speeches
Sept. 28 (d3): How did the War Affect the U.S. at home? Propaganda Posters
Oct. 1 (d4): The Versailles Treaty
Oct. 2 (d5): Seminar Discussion Prep: “Sacco and Venzetti” — seminar leaders meet with Ms. T
Oct. 4 (d6): Student Led Seminar Discussion, “Sacco and Venzetti”
Read notes from our discussion here | View our response paragraphs here.
Oct. 5 (d7): Test!
