Iola Register - Nov 13 1896 - "Fake News"
Providing evidence that there is seldom anything new in history, this 1896 Iowa newspaper uses the phrase "fake news" in describing falsely reported election results
H. L. Mencken's obituary for William Jennings Bryan
Most US History students will encounter Bryan through his "Cross of Gold" speech. The students with the best grades will be able to pick his name out of a list and associate him with the coinage of silver or the populist movement of the late 1800s. Few will recognize his name when it reappears in the Scopes Trial. Having students instead read this obituary, or even if a sentence or two of its pure vitriol will introduce the historical figure to them through the eyes of someone who truly hated him - interesting approach.
American Capitalism: A History -- FINALS - YouTube
Professors Edward Baptist & Louis Hyman of Cornell University are featured here in 100 videos explaining various aspects of the economics history of the United States. The real value of this resource is the targeted nature of the videos, world teachers can supplement lessons on the origins of money, accounting, slavery and the spice trade. US History teachers can supplement lessons on the Virginia Company, the social impact of department stores or the automobile. Quick, targeted and replete with an accesible, yet more sophisticated than would ever be found in a textbook
The Stalking of the President | History | Smithsonian
A concise article describing the assassination of James Garfield, a narrative almost exclusively ignored by US History survey courses, textbooks and curricula.
100 Years of Oz A Century of Classic Images From the Wizard of Oz Collection of Willard Carroll by John Fricke Photographed by Richard
This article in Public Relations Quarterly explains how the Wizard of Oz can be seen as political allegory, conceptualizing the Scarecrow as farmers, the Tin Man as industrial workers, the Lion as William Jennings Bryan and Dorothy as the American people. Quotes from the book explained in this articles can be shared with students - see if they can see the allegory.
American Panorama - Foreign Born
The culture and politics of the US have always been profoundly shaped by the material and emotional ties many of its residents have had to the places where they were born. This map will allow you to begin to explore those connections at the basic level of demographic statistics.
Move the timeline cursor along the timeline at the bottom of the page and see changes not only in the map but in the chart alongside the right hand side of the screen
Proud To Be - YouTube
This two minute video from the National Congress of American Indians sends a powerful message about the use of ethnic slurs as professional sports team mascots. Teacher choosing to use this as a debate topic could introduce the topic to students with this video.
Mary Elizabeth Lease: Populist Reformer | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Short biography of Mary Lease for teachers who may consider her as vehicle for instruction. She provides some of the best language for populist opinion.
Thomas Nast known for Boss Tweed & Santa
Time travel - Isochronic Map shows travel time from London worldwide in 1914
Maps show much more than location - isochronic maps show travel times. This 1914 map can be compared to other isochronic maps to see how changes in transportation technology drive change in history.
Gold Rush California Was Much More Expensive Than Today’s Tech-Boom California
Like other periods in US history, the Gold Rush, if it is mentioned at all, is relegated to one word "forty-niners", then forgotten. This short book review shows how much more there is to the story.
Angel Island Immigrant Journeys Curriculum Guide
For Grades 3 through 12 - lessons, student worksheets, primary source documents from the National Archives, historical photographs, and list of resources to introduce students to the experience of immigrants on Angel Island.
Topic: Progress, The Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870-1912, Primary Resources in U.S. History and Literature, Toolbox Library, National Humanities Center
Topic Framing Questions • How did Americans of this period define progress? • What did progress mean to them?
Topic: People, The Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870-1912, Primary Resources in U.S. History and Literature, Toolbox Library, National Humanities Center
Topic Framing Questions • How was the American cultural mainstream defined at this time? • What messages and strategies of socialization did the government and other culture brokers extend to immigrants, African Americans, and Native Americans during this period? • What benefits and costs for these groups were associated with a strategy of assimilation? • How did the city function as a site of assimilation?
Open Collections Program: Women Working - , 1800-1930
Women Working, 1800-1930 explores women's roles in the US economy between 1800 and the Great Depression and includes documentation of working conditions, conditions in the home, costs of living, recreation, health and hygiene, conduct of life, policies and regulations governing the workplace, and social issues Check the menu on the left for digitized diaries and links to corporate and organizational records.
Patent US266358 - Henry goebel - Google Patents
The teaching of inventors would be interesting if it weren't so sad - how many students lose points by not acknowledging Thomas Edison as the inventor of the light bulb. Look at this patent (the pdf version) and you'll see that Henry Goebel patented a light bulb in 1882. This patent was later purchased by Thomas Edison.
The synchronicity of 'The Wizard of Oz' and Pink Floyd's 'Dark side of the Moon' - YouTube
This video includes time markers and text details that explain many of the correlations that have been found between Pink Floyd's 1973 Album "Dark Side of the Moon" and the MGM's 1939 Wizard of Oz. Use clips from this videos to introduce student to the concept that The Wizard of Oz could mean more than we think. After they argue about the correlations for a minute or two - introduce the alternate interpretation that links the story to the Politics of the Gilded Age
The Populists - Wizard of Oz lesson
Another take on the Parable of Populism Wizard of OZ lesson.
Wizard of Oz (populism allegory) Slide Presentation
Using this as the basis for instruction would be a crime. It would be much better for teachers to use this as source material themselves and allow students to find these correlations for themselves.
http://www.shsu.edu/his_rtc/2014_FALL/Wizard_of_Oz_Littlefield.pdf
Littlefield started the modern inquiry into the Wizard of Oz as a parable of populism with this article in 1964. Teachers considering the allegory as a vehicle to have students explore populism could consider this article or excerpts from it.
10 Things People Once Complained Would Ruin The English Language
Helpful for any discussion related to language, but especially for the student who raise the threat to the English language. Well yes, this works in conversations with adults as well - but the information is linked and cited.
The Chinese Experience in 19th Century America
An entire unit from the University of Illinois; complete with lessons, primary documents and teacher materials. Some of this material addresses immigration generally and 19th century American ideas.
Apocalypse Now & Then - BackStory with the American History Guys
The "Bury my Heart" segment could be used for a Native American lesson related to the Ghost Dance movement and the massacre at Wounded Knee. The "Paradise Lost" section could be used in connection with a Second Great Awakening lesson.
Heaven on Earth - BackStory with the American History Guys
Two segments of this broadcast could be used for instruction, the examination of a Utopian community from the 19th century (Fruitlands) and Pullman's company town as well.
Two Photos, Many Stories
Historian William Friedheim uses before and after photographs of Lakota students taken at the Carlisle Indian School to raise issues about Native American identity and assimilation, and demonstrates how examining photographs as primary documents, combined with additional primary sources, shows students how use of evidence creates historical meaning.
Irish Immigrant Stereotypes and American Racism
In this essay, Kevin Kenny examines a British political cartoon to raise questions about the transatlantic nature of anti-Irish prejudice and its relationship to the history of racism in America.
Thomas Nast, Milk Tickets for Babies, 1876
This could be used for a quick lesson intro or "do now". Michael O'Malley explains how Thomas Nast's 1876 political cartoon lampooning paper money provides an opportunity for students to explore public debate about economic transformations during the Gilded Age.
A Company Town Faces Starvation during the Pullman Strike
When wage cuts prompted Pullman workers to strike in May 1894, out-of-work employees and their families faced starvation. This series of letters documents Pullman citizens' desperate appeals to the Governor of Illinois, John P. Altgeld, and Altgeld's unheeded request that Pullman himself help to alleviate the situation.
Competition and Monopoly: Single-Firm Conduct Under Section 2 of the Sherman Act : Chapter 1
Monopolies are legal - the justice department says so. Just show this document to students and have them interpret the language in Chapter 1 concerning "The Anticompetitive-Conduct Requirement". Then try to explain to them how it is possible for so many lazy teachers across the country teach their students that monopolies are illegal.
Section 2 prohibits acquiring or maintaining (and in some cases attempting
to acquire) monopoly power only through improper means.<a href="#N_36_"><sup>(36)</sup></a>
As long as a firm utilizes only lawful means, it is free to strive for
competitive success and reap the benefits of whatever market position
(including monopoly) that success brings, including charging whatever
price the market will bear. Prohibiting the mere possession of monopoly
power is inconsistent with harnessing the competitive process to achieve
economic growth.
Another great way to teach critical thinking is to show students how they are lazily taught that monopolies are illegal. Have them take this paragraph from a Justice Department report and justify how it can permit monopolies. This could be a simple ten minute thought exercise at the start of class
Stop Coddling the Super-Rich - NYTimes Op-Ed Warren Buffett
Warren Buffet supplies strong support for changes to the tax code to bring equity to taxation. This short, well written essay can be used with students in a Progressive Era or Gilded Age lesson that examines how factual support can be organized and presented to support a thesis.