The American Journey © 2012

Chapter 21: The Progressive Era

Web Activity Lesson Plans

"The Progressive Era"

Introduction
In this chapter students learned about the Progressive Era. They also learned about elements of this era, such as the desire for social and political reform. This web activity is designed to reinforce specific aspects of the reforms enacted during the Progressive Era.

Lesson Description
Students will learn about different reforms desired during the Progressive Era. After reading the articles and answering questions associated with the articles, they will use the knowledge to explain the reforms that took place and how they were important to the Progressive Era.

Instructional Objectives

1. The student will be able to explain different reforms during the Progressive Era.
2. The student will be able to use the information they learn to explain the importance of the Progressive Era in political and social aspects of American society.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. At the state level, Progressives created industrial accident insurance, enacted minimum wage laws for women, restricted child labor, and improved factories. At a local level, they wanted to clamp down on questionable neighborhoods, construct playgrounds, make high schools bigger, and find an efficient way for municipal government to function.
2. The constitutional amendments that were adopted are the income tax, the direct election of senators, the right to vote for women, and the prohibition of alcohol.
3. the Gentleman's Agreement
4. President McKinley was shot and killed. Roosevelt was his vice president.
5. Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of land for national forests.
6. Answers may vary but could state that the trust busting of monopolies encouraged fair business practice, muckrakers exposed unfairness and corruption, women's suffrage encouraged equal rights, and conservation helped to start protecting the environment.