U.S. History Curriculum Map
Unit 7: Big Business and Progressives
Enduring Themes:
Conflict and Change
Technological Innovation
Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Movement/Migration
Time Frame: 10 Days
Standards:
SSUSH11 The student will describe the economic, social, and geographic impact of the growth of big business and
technological innovations after Reconstruction.
a. Explain the impact of the railroads on other industries, such as steel, and on the organization of big business.
b. Describe the impact of the railroads in the development of the West; include the transcontinental railroad, and the use of
Chinese labor.
c. Identify John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company and the rise of trusts and monopolies
d. Describe the inventions of Thomas Edison; include the electric light bulb, motion pictures, and the phonograph, and their
impact on American life
SSUSH12 The student will analyze important consequences of American industrial growth.
a. Describe Ellis Island, the change in immigrants’ origins to southern and eastern Europe and the impact of this change on
urban America.
b. Identify the American Federation of Labor and Samuel Gompers.
c. Describe the growth of the western population and its impact on Native Americans with reference to Sitting Bull and
Wounded Knee.
d. Describe the 1894 Pullman strike as an example of industrial unrest.
SSUSH13 The student will identify major efforts to reform American society and politics in the Progressive Era.
a. Explain Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle and federal oversight of the meatpacking industry.
b. Identify Jane Addams and Hull House and describe the role of women in reform movements.
c. Describe the rise of Jim Crow, Plessy v. Ferguson, and the emergence of the NAACP.
d. Explain Ida Tarbell’s role as a muckraker.
e. Describe the significance of progressive reforms such as the initiative, recall, and referendum; direct election of senators;
reform of labor laws; and efforts to improve living conditions for the poor in cities.
f. Describe the conservation movement and the development of national parks and forests; include the role of Theodore
Roosevelt.
Unit Essential Question:
What was the economic, social and political impact of big business and technological innovations after Reconstruction?
Unit Resources:
Unit 7 Student Content Map
Unit 7 Vocabulary
Unit 7 Study Guide
Concept 1
Railroads and
Development of the West
Concept 2
Trusts and Monopolies
Concept 3
Consequences of
Industrial Growth
Concept 4
Progressive Reforms
Concept 1: Railroads and Development of the West
Standard:
SSUSH11 The student will describe the economic, social, and geographic impact of the growth of big
business and technological innovations after Reconstruction.
a. Explain the impact of the railroads on other industries, such as steel, and on the organization of big
business.
b. Describe the impact of the railroads in the development of the West; include the transcontinental
railroad, and the use of Chinese labor.
SSUSH12c. Describe the growth of the western population and its impact on Native Americans with
reference to Sitting Bull and Wounded Knee.
Lesson EQ: How did railroads impact other industries and development of the West?
Know
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Big business
Railroads
Steel
Development of the West
Transcontinental railroad
Chinese labor
Sitting Bull
Wounded Knee
Understand
 How railroads impacted
the growth of other
industries.
 How railroads impacted
the development of
western societies.
 How railroad expansion
and the growth of
western population
impacted Native
Americans
Be Able To Do (DOK 2)
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I Do (Teacher Point)
Railroads PowerPoint
Railroads and Expansion: Impact
on Native Americans PowerPoint
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Railroads Graphic Organizer
Describe the economic
impact of the growth of big
business
Describe the social impact of
the growth of big business
Describe the geographic
impact of the growth of big
business
Explain the impact of the
railroads on other industries
Explain the impact of
railroads on the organization
of big business
Describe the impact of
railroads on the development
of the West
Describe the transcontinental
railroad and use of Chinese
labor
Describe the impact of the
growth of the western
population on Native
Americans
Describe the impact of the
development of the West
with reference to Sitting Bull
and Wounded Knee.
You Do (Independent Practice)
Expansion Document Analysis
Concept 2: Trusts and Monopolies
Standard:
SSUSH11 The student will describe the economic, social, and geographic impact of the growth of big business and
technological innovations after Reconstruction.
a. Explain the impact of the railroads on other industries, such as steel, and on the organization of big business.
c. Identify John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company and the rise of trusts and monopolies
Lesson EQ: How did Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company contribute to the rise of monopolies and
trusts?
Know
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Trusts
Monopolies
John D. Rockefeller
Standard Oil Company
Andrew Carnegie
I Do (Teacher Point)
Trusts and Monopolies
PowerPoint
Understand
 How trusts and
monopolies work and
purpose and impact in
relation to controlling
industry
 Why John D.
Rockefeller and the
Standard Oil Company
are important when
examining the rise of
trusts and monopolies
in the U.S.
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Carnegie Steel Activator (Quote
Analysis)
Be Able To Do (DOK 2)
 Explain how trusts and
monopolies used
horizontal and vertical
integration to control their
respective markets.
 Identify John D. Rockefeller
and Standard Oil Company
You Do (Independent Practice)
Expansion Document Analysis
Concept 3: Consequences of Industrial Growth
Standard:
SSUSH11 The student will describe the economic, social, and geographic impact of the growth of big business and
technological innovations after Reconstruction.
d. Describe the inventions of Thomas Edison; include the electric light bulb, motion pictures, and the phonograph,
and their impact on American life
SSUSH12 The student will analyze important consequences of American industrial growth.
a. Describe Ellis Island, the change in immigrants’ origins to southern and eastern Europe and the impact of this
change on urban America.
b. Identify the American Federation of Labor and Samuel Gompers.
d. Describe the 1894 Pullman strike as an example of industrial unrest.
SSUSH14a. Explain the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and anti-Asian immigration sentiment on the west
coast
Lesson EQ: What were the consequences of American industrial growth?
Know
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Thomas Edison
Electric light bulb
Motion pictures
Phonograph
Ellis Island
Immigrants
Urban America
American Federation of
Labor
Samuel Gompers
1894 Pullman Strike
Industrial unrest
Chinese Exclusion Act of
1882
I Do (Teacher Point)
Thomas Edison’s Inventions
PowerPoint
Understand
 Understand the plight
of immigrant workers
regarding wages and
conditions.
 Understand the
purpose of labor unions
and the tools they used
to accomplish their
goals
 Understand how
inventions of Thomas
Edison affected
American society and
industry production.
 Understand how the
rise of industry
increased the need for
cheap labor
 Understand the
tensions between Irish
immigrants, American
citizens, and Chinese
immigrants.
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Immigration and Labor Carousel
(Stations)
Immigration and Labor Carousel
Handout
Be Able To Do (DOK 3)
 Analyze the important
consequences of industrial
growth
 Describe the inventions of
Thomas Edison and their
impact on American life.
 Describe Ellis Island
 Describe the change in
immigrants’ origins and
impact of change
 Identify AFL and Samuel
Gompers
 Describe the 1894 Pullman
strike and explain why it is
an example of unrest
 Explain the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1884 and
anti-Chinese sentiments
You Do (Independent Practice)
Labor and Immigration Formative
Assessment
Concept 4: Progressive Reforms
Standard:
SSUSH13 The student will identify major efforts to reform American society and politics in the Progressive Era.
a. Explain Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle and federal oversight of the meatpacking industry.
b. Identify Jane Addams and Hull House and describe the role of women in reform movements.
c. Describe the rise of Jim Crow, Plessy v. Ferguson, and the emergence of the NAACP.
d. Explain Ida Tarbell’s role as a muckraker.
e. Describe the significance of progressive reforms such as the initiative, recall, and referendum; direct election of
senators; reform of labor laws; and efforts to improve living conditions for the poor in cities.
f. Describe the conservation movement and the development of national parks and forests; include the role of
Theodore Roosevelt.
Lesson EQ: How were efforts made to reform American society during the Progressive Era?
Know
Understand
Be Able To Do (DOK 2)
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Reform
Progressive Era
Upton Sinclair
The Jungle
Federal oversight
Meatpacking industry
Jane Addams
Hull House
Role of women
Jim Crow
Plessy v. Ferguson
NAACP
Ida Tarbell
Muckraker
Initiative
Recall
Referendum
Direct election of senators
Labor laws
Living conditions of the poor
Conservation movement
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Theodore Roosevelt
I Do (Teacher Point)
Progressive Reforms PowerPoint
Political Reforms PowerPoint
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Why reform was needed
following the growth of
industry
How Americans worked to
reform society during the
Progressive Era
How Muckrakers
influenced change in
society in politics during
the Progressive Era
How racial tensions
continued during the
Progressive Era and the
role of the NAACP in
reform efforts
How progressive political
reforms made the U.S.
government more
democratic
How Progressive
reformers worked to
improve the lives of urban
poor
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Progressive Reforms Scavenger
Hunt Directions
Progressive Reform Scavenger
Hunt
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Identify major efforts to
reform America during the
Progressive Era
Explain impact of The Jungle
on oversight of the
meatpacking industry
Identify Jane Addams and the
Hull House
Describe the role of women
in reform
Describe the rise of Jim Crow
Describe Plessy v. Ferguson
Describe the emergence of
the NAACP
Explain Ida Tarbell’s role as a
muckraker
Describe the significance of
progressive political reforms
Describe efforts to improve
living conditions for the poor
in cities
Describe the conservation
movement and role of T.
Roosevelt
You Do (Independent Practice)
Modern Day Muckraker
Progressives Primary Source
Analysis
Muckraker Primary Sources
Muckraker Student Handout