Crossroads: High School Curriculum
Unit VIII: Waves of Reform: 1880s to 1921

Lesson 1

Contents

Major Concepts

Objectives

Suggested lesson/activities


Major Concepts:

  1. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Populist and Progressive reformers exposed corruption, revitalized political institutions, regulated industry and commerce, attempted to cure social ills, extended political rights, and protected natural resources.

  2. These waves of reform differed in their origins, goals, and methods, with Populists focusing on the agrarian Middle and Far West and Progressivism becoming a largely urban movement. Populists and Progressives even differed among themselves as to what reforms the nation should undertake and whom those reforms should benefit.

Objectives: The student will be able to:

  1. Construct a party platform for a political group circa 1880s-1910s that advocates reforms that will aid the ailing small farmer and control "big business."

  2. Construct a party platform for a political group circa 1880s-1910s that advocates governmental action to correct social ills in the nation's cities.

Suggested lesson/activities:

  1. Begin the lesson by asking students to describe what it means to be a popular student. Ask what the difference is between popular and classical music. When we say that a certain piece of music is popular, what do we mean What is the difference between the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra? Summarize these responses by reference to the general idea that "popular" as a concept denotes the general public, the masses of people. Ask the musicians in the class what progressive jazz is. What makes the music different from other forms of jazz, such as blues and Dixieland?

  2. Introduce the terms "Populist" and "Progressive" and present dictionary definitions:

    POPULIST: A member of a political party claiming to represent the common people; a member of a United States political party formed in 1891 primarily to represent agrarian interests.

    PROGRESSIVE: One believing in moderate political change, especially social improvement by government action.

    Using the responses from these earlier discussions, move to a brief explanation of the concepts "popular," "populist," and "progressive." How are they similar or linked? How do they differ?

  3. Divide the class into 5-6 study groups. Give each student copies of the "Populists and Progressives" worksheet. Choose selections from the CROSSROADS Resource, POPULISTS AND PROGRESSIVES Selected Resources for Unit VIII, Lesson 1. Distribute copies of these resources.

  4. Provide class time for delivery of the "platform speeches" during a mock party convention. Review the principles of role playing found in Unit IV, Lesson 4.

A Crossroads Resource: Populists and Progressives
A Crossroads Resource: Populists and Progressives: Suggested Resources
Back to Unit VIII: Waves of Reform: 1880s to 1921