Arkansas Progressive Era Dinner Party
Revised 2007-08 School Year Utilizing 2006 Social Studies Frameworks Including
2007 Arkansas History Amendments and 2007 School Library Media Frameworks
Students will review the Progressive Era (1900-1920) in Arkansas.
Grade:
7th – 12th
Objective: Students will explore, interpret, and analyze various historical viewpoints
concerning economic, political, and social issues including gender and race. The
culminating activity is a writing activity where students will describe the guests they
would invite to a dinner party which would have been held in the Progressive Era of
Arkansas’s History,
Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks:
Arkansas History Student Learning Expectations:
RP.6.AH.7-8.6
Discuss the contributions of political leaders in Arkansas during the
Progressive Era
W.7.AH.7-8.1
Describe the contributions of Arkansans in the early 1900s
RP.6.AH.9-12.2
RP.6.AH.9-12.3
Analyze the effects of sharecropping on society in Arkansas
Examine the development of manufacturing industry in Arkansas using
available technology
Describe the economic challenges Arkansas farmers faced during the postReconstruction period
Investigate the development of the public school system in Arkansas
Examine the contributions of political leaders in Arkansas during the
Progressive Era
RP.6.AH.9-12.4
RP.6.AH.9-12.5
RP.6.AH.9-12.6
W.7.AH.9-12.1
W.7.AH.9-12.2
Examine the reactions of Arkansans to World War I
Describe the contributions of Arkansans to the early 1900’s
School Library Media Student Learning Expectations:
A.3.7.1, A.3.8.1 – Practice organizational strategies to record and synthesize information
A.4.7.1, A.4.8.1, A.4.9.1, A.4.10.1, A.4.11.1, A.4.12.1 – Use resources and/or technology tools
for a predetermined task
English Language Arts Student Learning Expectations:
OV.1.10.2
Prepare and participate in informal discussions and activities, such as presentations, group
discussions/work teams, and debates…
OV.3.9.2
Articulate personal response to such media as editorials, news stories and advertisements
W.4.9.1
Generate, gather and organize ideas for writing
Related Encyclopedia of Arkansas Entries:
Early Twentieth Century; Bernie Babcock; Ida Josephine Brooks; Charles Hillman Brough;
Joseph Carter Corbin; George Washington Donaghey; “Coin” Harvey; Joseph Taylor
Robinson
Introduction:
The teacher will select the appropriate student learning expectations for his or her class, review
the key terms, and make copies of selected information included in the lesson. Collaboration with
the school library media specialist for assistance with the utilization of the technology resource
tool for Arkansas History is suggested. See above links or go to the online Encyclopedia of
Arkansas History and Culture at http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net.
Key Terms: demagogue; initiative; prohibition; referendum; suffrage; "Wool Hat
Boys"
Key Facts: The Progressive Era brought many new ideas and social changes to the
United States. Arkansas experienced many changes in education (compulsory
attendance laws), transportation (improved roads), state government (end of convictlease system, initiative and referendum, women's suffrage, and prohibition), health
(TB hospital, and the elimination of hookworm and pellagra), and business (lumber
and mining). Some of the people who helped shape these changes in Arkansas
include Bernie Babcock, Dr. Ida Jo Brooks, Charles H. Brough, J. C. Corbin, Jeff
Davis, George W. Donaghey, W. H. "Coin" Harvey, Scipio A. Jones, and Joseph T.
Robinson.
Background: Students must be exposed to the accomplishments of these
Arkansans from the Progressive Era for this activity to be successful. A brief
description of each person is provided below. For additional information students
could do research on these people and report to the class. See Encyclopedia of
Arkansas History and Culture. Also, the Sources Section of this lesson plan will
provide information for further study. Teachers may elect to change this list to reflect
regional, cultural, or personal preferences.
1. Bernie Babcock- Little Rock writer, a widow with five children, leader in the
suffrage movement, and founder of the Arkansas Museum of Science and
History.
2. Dr. Ida Jo Brooks -daughter of Joseph Brooks (of the Brooks-Baxter War),
first woman president of the state teachers association, suffragist, medical
doctor, first clinically trained psychiatrist in Arkansas, professor at the
University of Arkansas Medical School
3. Charles H. Brough - college professor, good public speaker, governor of
Arkansas during World War I and The Elaine Race Riot/Massacre,
authorized county boards of education and compulsory school attendance
law, created the Arkansas Corporation Commission, which supervised and
regulated public utilities in the state.
4. J. C. Corbin -black educator with a master's degree from Ohio University,
superintendent of Arkansas schools, first principal of Branch Normal College at Pine
Bluff (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff).
5. Jeff Davis - educated in Russellville public schools, became a lawyer, was
elected attorney general, 3-term governor, and US senator, had a
controversial personality, and was considered a classic demagogue.
6. George W. Donaghey - helped the city of Conway get Hendrix College,
Central Baptist College, and what is now the University of Central Arkansas,
became Arkansas' first "businessman governor," served for two terms,
finished building the State Capitol, improved the state's public schools and
public health, helped get adoption of the initiative and referendum, stopped
the convict-lease system, left the bulk of his estate to the University of
Arkansas at Little Rock.
7. W. H. "Coin" Harvey - lawyer, wrote popular books promoting silver as the
standard for American currency, developed the Monte Ne resort in Benton
County, founded the Ozark Trails Association, the first Arkansan to run for
president.
8. Scipio A. Jones - born into slavery, a lawyer, represented various AfricanAmerican fraternal organizations, political and social activist, defense attorney
for the black men accused of murder in the Elaine Race Riot.
9. Joseph T. Robinson - lawyer from Lonoke County, excellent debater, loyal
Democratic Party politician, congressman, governor, US Senator, vicepresidential nominee on the ticket with Al Smith in 1928.
10. “Wool Hat Boys" - common hill folks and farmers of Arkansas who
supported Jeff Davis.
Procedure:
Day One:
Discussion/Lecture Activity
At the beginning of the study of the Progressive Era, have the students list the
following people on notebook paper skipping at least five lines between each one:
1. Bernie Babcock
2. Dr. Ida Joe Brooks
3. Charles H. Brough
4. J. C. Corbin
5. Jeff Davis
6. George W. Donaghey
7. W. H. "Coin" Harvey
8. Scipio A. Jones
9. Joseph T. Robinson
10. "Wool Hat Boys"
Tell students to “fill up” the spaces between each name on the list. As they proceed through
the unit, students will add descriptions of the activities and contributions of each person on
the list
Day Two:
Writing Activity:
Review day one activities. Ask the students to share the details of a memorable
dinner they have enjoyed with friends and/or family including who was there, where it
was held, what was served, and what made it so much fun. In this activity, they are
to imagine a memorable dinner party with any four of the above characters. They will
write a paper describing their choices and the reason for these choices.
Students will write a paper using the following directions: Choose four of the
characters listed in your notes that you would invite to a private dinner party with
you. Explain the reasons for your choices. Share some of the questions you would
like to ask each guest. Feel free to describe the details of your dinner party, what
everyone wore, where it was held, etc.
Evaluation:
Participation in a classroom discussion can be evaluated. Utilization of technology
tools can be evaluated as well. The teacher will evaluate the written assignment
with a teacher made rubric or a district approved rubric.
Extended Activities:
Students may create the menu one would serve at progressive era dinner party.
Students may be asked to explain if the group of invited guests would influence the
menu.
With the help of the work force education teacher, students may actually prepare a
progressive era meal.
Sources:
T. Harri Baker and Jane Browning. An Arkansas History for Young People.
Fayetteville Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Press, 1997.
Tom Dillard. "Scipio A. Jones." The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Volume 31,
(Autumn 1972), 201-219.
Timothy P. Donovan, Willard B. Gatewood Jr., Jeannie M. Whayne (eds.). The
Governors of Arkansas. Fayetteville, Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Press,
1995.
Michael B. Dougan. Arkansas Odyssey. Little Rock, Arkansas: Rose Publishing
Company, Inc., 1994.
Calvin R. Ledbetter, Jr. Carpenter from Conway. Fayetteville, Arkansas: The
University of Arkansas Press, 1993.
Foy Lisenby. Charles Hillman Brough. Fayetteville, Arkansas: The University of
Arkansas Press, 1996.
Diann Sutherlin. The Arkansas Handbook. Little Rock, Arkansas: Fly-By-Night Press,
1996.
These lesson plans are made possible in part through the support of the Arkansas
Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Taylor Foundation (Little Rock, Arkansas) makes Butler Center lesson plans possible.
Contact the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St., Little
Rock, AR, 72201. 501-918-3056 www.butlercenter.org and www.cals.lib.ar.us