US History Part 2--Reading and Writing Workshop
The Progressive Era (1890–1920)
Key Topics:
Students work in groups of four. Roles rotate daily.
Group Focus
How did investigative journalism expose social problems and inspire reform?
Reading 1: Upton Sinclair, The Jungle (1906)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“There would come all the way back from Europe old sausage that had been rejected, and that was moldy and white—it would be dosed with borax and glycerin, and dumped into the hoppers, and made over again for home consumption.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/140
Reading 2: Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives (1890)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“Long ago it was said that ‘one half of the world does not know how the other half lives.’ That was true then. It did not know because it did not care.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45502
Group Writing Task
Identify two problems exposed by muckrakers and explain how public awareness led to reform efforts.
Session 2: Women’s Suffrage and Political Change
Group Focus
How did suffragists argue for expanded democratic rights?
Reading 1: Susan B. Anthony, On Women’s Right to Vote (1873)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43556
Reading 2: Alice Paul, Speech on Women’s Suffrage (1917)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty? Let us have the rights we deserve.”
URL:
https://www.loc.gov/item/2020779006/
Group Writing Task
Compare Anthony’s and Paul’s arguments. How did methods and tone change over time?
Session 3: Theodore Roosevelt and Trust-Busting
Group Focus
What role should government play in regulating big business?
Reading 1: Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism Speech (1910)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“The absence of effective State, and especially national, restraint upon unfair money-getting has tended to create a small class of enormously wealthy and economically powerful men.”
URL:
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/newnat.asp
Reading 2: Ida Tarbell, The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“Mr. Rockefeller has systematically played with loaded dice, and it is doubtful if there has ever been a time since 1872 when he has run a race with a competitor and not taken an unfair advantage of him.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17090
Group Writing Task
Was trust-busting necessary? Use evidence from both Roosevelt and Tarbell.
Session 4: Progressive Reforms in Action
Group Focus
How did laws translate reform ideas into action?
Reading 1: Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, or transport any adulterated or misbranded foods or drugs.”
URL:
https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=46&page=transcript
Reading 2: Child Labor Reform – National Child Labor Committee Report (1908)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“The employment of young children in factories and mines endangers health, education, and morals.”
URL:
https://www.loc.gov/item/09006107/
Group Writing Task
Rank the reforms studied so far by impact, and justify your rankings with evidence.
Session 5: Writing Workshop – Progressive Reform Essay
Group Focus
Which Progressive reform most shaped modern America?
Essay Prompt
Choose one Progressive reform and argue why it was the most significant.
Group Writing Process
Formative
The Progressive Era (1890–1920)
Key Topics:
- Muckrakers and investigative journalism Upton Sinclair Jacob Riis
- Women’s suffrage and the 19th Amendment
- Theodore Roosevelt and trust-busting
- Progressive reforms Pure Food and Drug Act child labor laws
- Comparing historical arguments for and against reforms
- Writing a persuasive essay on a Progressive reform
- What social and political problems emerged during the Progressive Era?
- How did Progressives seek to improve American society?
- Which Progressive reforms had the greatest impact on modern America?
Students work in groups of four. Roles rotate daily.
- Primary Reader – reads the source aloud
- Context Historian – explains historical background
- Evidence Tracker – selects quotations for writing
- Discussion Leader – guides analysis and discussion
Group Focus
How did investigative journalism expose social problems and inspire reform?
Reading 1: Upton Sinclair, The Jungle (1906)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“There would come all the way back from Europe old sausage that had been rejected, and that was moldy and white—it would be dosed with borax and glycerin, and dumped into the hoppers, and made over again for home consumption.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/140
Reading 2: Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives (1890)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“Long ago it was said that ‘one half of the world does not know how the other half lives.’ That was true then. It did not know because it did not care.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45502
Group Writing Task
Identify two problems exposed by muckrakers and explain how public awareness led to reform efforts.
Session 2: Women’s Suffrage and Political Change
Group Focus
How did suffragists argue for expanded democratic rights?
Reading 1: Susan B. Anthony, On Women’s Right to Vote (1873)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43556
Reading 2: Alice Paul, Speech on Women’s Suffrage (1917)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty? Let us have the rights we deserve.”
URL:
https://www.loc.gov/item/2020779006/
Group Writing Task
Compare Anthony’s and Paul’s arguments. How did methods and tone change over time?
Session 3: Theodore Roosevelt and Trust-Busting
Group Focus
What role should government play in regulating big business?
Reading 1: Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism Speech (1910)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“The absence of effective State, and especially national, restraint upon unfair money-getting has tended to create a small class of enormously wealthy and economically powerful men.”
URL:
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/newnat.asp
Reading 2: Ida Tarbell, The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“Mr. Rockefeller has systematically played with loaded dice, and it is doubtful if there has ever been a time since 1872 when he has run a race with a competitor and not taken an unfair advantage of him.”
URL:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17090
Group Writing Task
Was trust-busting necessary? Use evidence from both Roosevelt and Tarbell.
Session 4: Progressive Reforms in Action
Group Focus
How did laws translate reform ideas into action?
Reading 1: Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, or transport any adulterated or misbranded foods or drugs.”
URL:
https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=46&page=transcript
Reading 2: Child Labor Reform – National Child Labor Committee Report (1908)
Complete excerpt (public domain):
“The employment of young children in factories and mines endangers health, education, and morals.”
URL:
https://www.loc.gov/item/09006107/
Group Writing Task
Rank the reforms studied so far by impact, and justify your rankings with evidence.
Session 5: Writing Workshop – Progressive Reform Essay
Group Focus
Which Progressive reform most shaped modern America?
Essay Prompt
Choose one Progressive reform and argue why it was the most significant.
Group Writing Process
- Brainstorm claims and counterclaims
- Select at least three primary-source quotations
- Draft collaboratively
- Peer review for clarity and evidence
- Revise and submit final essay individually
Formative
- Group annotations
- Evidence trackers
- Short analytical responses
- Persuasive essay on a Progressive reform
- Group discussion participation