U. S. History II
Columbia Gorge Community College
High School Credit Completion Program
.5 High School Credit
Essential Questions:
How do the historic events of the United States shape our lives today?
What might work and society look like today without the ideas and movements of the
Progressive Era?
Task I: Time line Specifics for this Unit
Place on your time line for the years 1890-1928 these events:
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Ten major domestic developments, such as Prohibition, women’s right to vote, major acts
passed by Congress, etc.
Three revolutions and major wars
Events that fit the theme you selected at the beginning of this course
Task II: Research Diagram
Create a Venn diagram that includes four circles, rather than the traditional two. Each circle
will represent one of the following philosophies/movements:
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Progressivism
Capitalism
Communism
Socialism
Use words, symbols, pictures or a combination of words, symbols and pictures to answer
the following questions about each philosophy. Place the ideas that are the same for all four
philosophies in the sections of the diagram that overlap.
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Explain the essence of each philosophy. What does each mean?
What were the main values of each philosophy during this time period?
What changes did each movement hope to facilitate?
What changes did the movement actually accomplish?
To what types of people (class, occupation, etc.) did each philosophy appeal?
Make a 5-10 minute presentation to your instructor that interprets and explains your diagram.
Task III: The Writer’s Project
Go to the following website to discover information about the Writer’s Project.
Website: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/wpahome.html
1. Write a paragraph that describes the Writer’s Project, including purpose, funding, and
accomplishments.
2. Find and read at least ten stories published at this site that deal directly with the effect of
the Depression and/or the New Deal on the lives of people. Use these keywords to help
with your search: Depression, New Deal.
3. For each story answer the following questions.
 What was the name, sex, occupation and geographic location of the person
interviewed?
 What is a keyword to describe this entry (re: miner, hobo, artist).
 Which aspects of The Great Depression affected this person?
 Which aspects of The New Deal helped or might have helped this person?
Task IV: Progress
Select one of the following areas to research:
1. Food regulation and production (such as migrant labor, use of foreign labor and facilities,
meat processing plants, fast food)
2. Clothing manufacturing
3. Steel manufacturing
4. Coal mining
Answers these questions on the topic you selected:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What were the regulations and/or work conditions in this area before the Progressive Era?
What are the regulations and/or work conditions in this area now?
How have the regulations and/or conditions changed? What caused the changes?
Why are so many US manufacturers today using foreign laborers and facilities?
Task V: Editorial Reading and Analysis
Find 4 editorials on a topic of interest to you. Make a copy of each editorial to work with.
Complete the following activities
1. Highlight the main point, or thesis, of each editorial. With a different color, highlight
each of the supporting points.
2. Compare the patterns of the editorials. Is each main point in the same place in the
editorial (such as in the first paragraph or the last paragraph?)? Which pattern seems most
effective to you? Why?
3. Circle any phrases or words that are particularly powerful or create strong visual images.
4. Draw a star at the top of the editorial that seems to be the most effective and convincing.
How did the author convince you?
Find two political cartoons that address the same topic as two of the editorials you used for this
activity. The Internet, news magazines and newspapers are all good sources.
1. Briefly explain the point each cartoonist is trying to make.
2. Is each cartoon effective? Why or why not?
Task VI: Editorial Column Writing
Now, use your research to write two editorial columns that deal with this
area’s current regulations and work conditions. Write one from the viewpoint of someone who is
employed as a common laborer in the area you researched. Write the second column from the
viewpoint of someone who is an owner in this area. Each editorial should be at least 500 words.
Readers should not be able to tell which opinion is closest to yours.
Assessment: Writing Scoring Guide; columns will be scored for: ideas and content, organization
and conventions.
Task VII: Political Cartoons
Political cartoons became quite popular during the Progressive Era. Find political cartoons topic
from the Progressive Era and from current publications that represent national thought on your
selected topic. Use the cartoons to support your writing. If you prefer, you may create your own
political cartoons to support your writing. Use at least one cartoon to support each view you
present. Assessment: See Scoring Guide
Task VIII: Exhibit Visit
Visit one of the following sites:
 Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
 Ft. Dalles Museum
 Hood River County Historical Museum
 Maryhill Museum of Art
 Wasco County Historical Museum
 Hutson Museum (Parkdale)
 Gilliam County Historical Society (Condon)
 Gorge Heritage Museum (Bingen)
Look at exhibits at this site and answer these questions:
1. How does the layout enhance or detract from the content of the display?
2. What is the relationship between text and graphics?
3. In what ways does color or lack of color affect the display?
4. How does the sequencing and organization of information help the viewer interpret the
display?
5. Read the labels. What is the average word length of each label?
6. Do you see any convention errors? If so, record them.
7. How do these errors affect your response to the exhibit?