Gilded Age & Progressives
Aug/Sep, 2015
World Hist. II
Mr. Aiello
The Gilded Age & The Progressives
Unit Syllabus
This syllabus is designed to do several things for students: assist your budgeting of time and
prevent procrastination; not get behind when you are absent; have something to help you study for
tests; and as a gentle reminder of each day’s work.
At the beginning of each syllabus, I will list several questions. Their intent is to guide all of us as
we go through the unit. I encourage you to look over the questions before and during your reading
and other homework assignments. One of the binder assignments for each unit will be your written
answer to each of the essential questions. Each question will almost always require a full paragraph
or more answer. As always, putting the answer into your own words is much more highly valued
than simply copying down the answer from the text!
This unit will quickly catch us up with where you left off last year, and get us through the turn of
the Twentieth Century.
World History II
Enduring understandings for all 8 units
EU#1: The United States gradually has become a global superpower.
EU#2: Technological changes, demographic changes, and the changing role of
government have shaped American society.
EU#3: The principle of self-determination has shaped world history.
EU#4: Increasing global interconnectedness has produced conflict and cooperation.
Essential Questions for Unit 1:
1) What was the impact of industrialization and urbanization on American society?
2) How did Progressive reformers respond to problems of the Gilded Age?
3) How did the role of government change during the Progressive Era?
4) What was the impact of the Progressive Movement on race, gender and class?
Gilded Age & Progressives
Aug/Sep, 2015
World Hist. II
Mr. Aiello
Night
Wednesday, Aug. 12
Homeplay Assignment
Get a binder, blank lined paper, pencil, and blue or black ink pen. Both
you and your parent(s) need to complete the Student Information sheet and
return it to Mr. Aiello.
Thursday,
Aug. 13
Read the Critical Thinking packet. Pay attention to PROP!! Do some
underlining, annotating in the margins, summarizing, etc., to help you
understand and remember key ideas.
Friday,
Aug. 14
Read Chapter 17: The Trials of Reconstruction, 1863 – 1877.
Highlight/underline what you believe are key ideas to remember.
Monday,
Aug. 17
Read and annotate the handout “Homestead Act/The Closing of the
Frontier”.
Tuesday,
Aug. 18
Read the photocopied packet “Native Americans.” Answer the following
questions in your notebook:
1) How did incidents like the Fetterman’s massacre or Sand Creek Massacre
represent important conflicts at this time in Western history?
2) Why does the textbook claim the reservation system was “doomed to failure”?
3) Connect the Battle of the Little Bighorn with the Tragedy at Wounded Knee
and the resulting policy of assimilation.
Wednesday, Aug. 19
After reading the packet, write a paragraph to answer the question “Why
did industrialization take place so rapidly in the U.S.?” Have a strong
thesis sentence, and then support it with two or three examples and
explanations.
Thursday,
Aug. 20
Read the photocopied packet “The Railroads.”
1) How did railroad expansion in the U.S. lead to industrial growth?
Friday,
Aug. 21
Read the photocopied packet “Big Business.”
Define (in your own words):
Economies of scale, monopoly, trust, holding company
1) Do you think a person today could rise to such great power and wealth as
Andrew Carnegie did in the 1800s? Explain a couple of reasons why and why
not?
Monday,
Aug. 24
Read the photocopied packet “Immigration.”
1) Why did Nativists oppose the new immigration patterns?
2) Is Nativism still present in the U.S. today? Explain your opinion.
Tuesday,
Aug. 25
Complete the “Immigration Old and New” packet.
Binder Check tomorrow!!! Make sure everything is organized and completed.
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Read the photocopied packet “Urbanization.”
Define (in your own words):
Political machines, graft
1) How did the political machines help the poor people of the cities?
Gilded Age & Progressives
Aug/Sep, 2015
Thursday,
Aug. 27
World Hist. II
Mr. Aiello
Read the article “The New Gilded Age.” Write a one paragraph response to it.
Do you agree or disagree with the author’s opinion? Why?
Read the photocopied packet “The Rise of Segregation.”
Make sure that you understand the basic positions of Ida B. Wells, Booker T.
Washington and W.E.B. DuBois.
Monday,
Aug. 31
Read the photocopied packet “Politics in the Cities.” Be prepared to use
the ideas in the reading for the class activity Tuesday.
Tuesday,
Sep. 1
Read the photocopied excerpts from The Jungle.
Wednesday, Sep. 2
Read (blue book) American Republic Chapter 13:1. (From now on, this
will be abbreviated as A.H. 13:1) Answer the questions in your notes:
1) Who were the Progressives?
2) What is a muckraker?
3) What were the two central ways the Progressives wanted to bring more
democracy to society?
4) How were the socialists different in their goals from the Progressives?
Thursday,
Sep. 3
Read A.H. 13:2.
1) Why did some people begin to see trusts as a bad thing for society?
2) What was Teddy Roosevelt’s role in the Coal Strike of 1902?
3) How did T.R. begin to involve the government in the regulation of business?
4) Should T.R. be considered a “trust-buster”?
Friday,
Sep. 4
Read A.H. 13:3 & 4
1) Explain two of Taft’s successes as a Progressive President.
2) Compare and contrast the “New Nationalism” to the “New Freedom.”
3) Which of Wilson’s reforms do you consider to be most significant? Why?
Tuesday,
Sep. 8
Study for the Unit Test tomorrow. Bring your completed binder!