APUSH
Reform in America (1820-1860)
In the forty years prior to the Civil War, a number of reform movements developed in the
US. Fueled by the spirit of the Second Great Awakening, these reformers desired to
improve American society. This project is designed to provide an overview of this
period. Each student will play two roles: a member of a specific reform movement and a
US Senator.
Part I
Congratulations! You and your fellow reformers have been invited to testify before the
Select Senate Committee on Improving American Society. The Committee is responsible
to determine which reform group will get funding from the federal government. Your job
is to develop a presentation that will convince the Senators to fund your specific group.
Each group’s presentation should include:


3-4 page report that includes a description of the problem(s) your group wishes to fix,
your proposal to solve the problem and why you believe this issue deserves funding.
Reports should have the appropriate documentation.
a short PowerPoint presentation (5-8 slides) which describes your proposal and
attempts to convince the Committee to fund your proposal. Lots of pretty pictures are
good.
The Committee will meet to hear presentations starting December 1. We will spend two
days in the computer lab to work on these presentations. The rest of the preparation time
is up to you.
Part II
Congratulations! You have just been elected to the US Senate and have been assigned to
sit on the Select Senate Committee on Improving American Society. Starting on
December 1, you will hear a number of presentations by reform groups requesting money
to fund their various reforms. Your job is to determine which groups deserve money.
Since funds are limited, only two groups can receive funding. To help you make your
decision, you will be permitted to ask questions of the witnesses and witness reports will
be made available for your use. One week after the hearings, you will submit a paper
which:
 Lists your two choices
 Explains why you made those choices
 Explains why you rejected the other groups
Helpful Websites
http://www.historyteacher.net/AHAP/Weblinks/AHAP_Weblinks8.htm
Historyteacher.net is a wonderful website for our class. This page has weblinks for the
reform movement.
http://www.historyteacher.net/2002DBQsMainPage.htm
Student created DBQs on the 1810-1860 period.
Temperance
Rosemary
Sharon
Evelyn
Aylin
Ray
Women
Matthew
Brenda
Larry
Princess
Daniella
Abolition
Harold
Gabby
Petar
Vaughn
Education
John
Caitlin
Kim
Emmeline
PowerPoint Rubric
Content
4



Mechanics



Technical
Requirements



Oral Presentation
Skills



Covered
topic in depth
Clear
evidence of
research
Answered all
questions
3



Excellent use
of proper
grammar
Very well
planned
Very logical
flow of
information

Proper
number of
slides
Included
many
appropriate
graphics
Legible font,
background
Spoke very
loudly,
clearly,
slowly, no
gum
Expanded on
a lot of
information
in slides
No verbal tics








Covered
topic
Some
evidence of
research
Answered
most
questions
2



Good use of
proper
grammar
Somewhat
well planned
Somewhat
logical flow
of
information
Good number
of slides
Included
some
appropriate
graphics
Legible font,
background

Spoke
somewhat
loudly,
clearly,
slowly, no
gum
Expanded on
some
information
in slides
No verbal tics








Covered
topic
somewhat
Average
evidence of
research
Answered
some
questions
Average use
of proper
grammar
Well planned
Logical flow
of
information
Average
number of
slides
Included a
few
appropriate
graphics
Legible font,
background
Spoke loudly,
clearly,
slowly, no
gum
Expanded on
a little
information
in slides
A few verbal
tics
1












Didn’t really
cover the
topic
Below
average
evidence of
research
Answered
few questions
Poor use of
grammar
Not well
planned
Poor flow of
information
Poor number
of slides
Included no
appropriate
graphics
Illegible font,
background
Spoke softly
unclearly,
quickly, gum
Didn’t
expand on
information
in slides
Many verbal
tics
APUSH
Reform in America Project Grade Sheet
Actual Text (50%) __________ (out of 10 points x 5) = __________
PowerPoint (40%) __________ (out of 4 points x 10) = __________
Peer Evaluation of Group Work (10%)
TOTAL
=__________