Fernando Febus Amy Horn Megan Klaslo Michele Tracey

Historical Overview

Key Concepts 1. Democracy in Action Democracy is founded on the representation of the people, which allows them to actively participate in reform. 2. Cycle of Reform Movements Throughout recent American history, reform movements have been occurring in an ebb and flow pattern about every thirty to forty years. 3. Shift in Demographics The major participating groups in reform movements have changed throughout the decades. 4. Reform Tactics Depending on the time period and the issue at hand, reform movements used different strategies to accomplish its goals. 5. Role of Government The role of the American government has changed throughout the cycle of reform movements, whether playing a more passive role or becoming more involved in the movements.

Key Concepts, (cont.) 6. Unification of a Nation America sought to unify itself among all groups in society, including reforms during the Civil War and Civil Rights Movements. 7. Voting Introduced during the Jacksonian Era, voting rights were a main driving force in many reform movements, especially during the Civil War era and in the Civil Rights Movement. 8. Social Changes Along with the political changes, these reform movements altered the way that society functioned. 9. Economy Many reform movements affected the economy, whether positively or negatively. 10. Unchanged Issues Although past reform movements made some major positive changes in America, there are still issues that exist today in need of reform.

Objectives Students will be able to: Compare and contrast today’s problems with past reform movements.Compare and contrast today’s problems with past reform movements. Analyze the correlation between a time period and its respective reform movement.Analyze the correlation between a time period and its respective reform movement. Predict future reform movements.Predict future reform movements. Evaluate the role these reform movements played in shaping modern America.Evaluate the role these reform movements played in shaping modern America. Apply knowledge of past reform movements to current and future issues.Apply knowledge of past reform movements to current and future issues.

Questions How have past reform movements shaped modern America? How have past reform movements shaped modern America? Why are reform movements so important? Why are reform movements so important? What is the relationship between the social and political aspects of each reform? What is the relationship between the social and political aspects of each reform? What similarities and differences exist between today’s issues and those of the past? What similarities and differences exist between today’s issues and those of the past? What factors of today’s society could lead to future reform movements? Why? What factors of today’s society could lead to future reform movements? Why?

Resources An interactive timeline that allows the students to see the political, cultural, and socio-economic changes occurring during any given time A government sponsored website including information about the people, places, and strategies of the Civil Rights Movement A website sponsored by a non-partisan, non-profit organization designed to inform American citizens about today’s issues This site is sponsored by the Webster’s World of Cultural Democracy, and includes background information about the reforms made during the New Deal Era This website gives the history of the Progressive Era and includes primary sources and more credible external links for the students to use. An overview of New Jersey during the Civil Rights Movement, with a lesson plan.

Class Activity Objective: To get students to recognize an issue, devise a strategy of reform, and use background information acquired in class to solve the problem. rights-birmingham.jpg

Class Activity (cont.) Brainstorm Survey Peers Devise Strategy of Reform Presentation

Rubric Rubric

Connections Predicting future reform movements relies on what we as a nation have learned from reform movements in the past. Modern America was shaped by these past reform movements, and there is still evidence of them today. Jacksonian EraJacksonian Era Civil WarCivil War ProgressivesProgressives New DealNew Deal Civil RightsCivil Rights

Why is This an Important Topic to Teach Within a US History Course? aphic/xlarge/32_00018.jpg

Why is This an Important Topic for Your Students to Learn About? pagebuilder/41631.jpg sentinel.com/wp- content/uploads/2007/0 9/afp_us_iraq_protest_ washington_195_eng_1 5sep07.jpg