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Lesson Plans
Out of Many: A History of the American People ©2000
by Faragher, Buhle, Czitrom, and Armitage
Focus Lesson 17
Chapter 20: "Commonwealth and Empire, 1870–1900"
AP* Course Description
- Foreign Policy, 1865–1914
- Seward and the purchase of Alaska
- The new imperialism
- Blaine and Latin America
- International Darwinism: missionaries, politicians, and naval expansionists
- Spanish-American War
– Cuban independence
– Debate on the Philippines
- The Far East: John Hay and the Open Door
- National Politics, 1877–1896: The Gilded Age
- Agrarian discontent
- Crisis of the 1890s
- Populism
- Silver question
- Election of the 1896: McKinley versus Bryan
- Mass Culture
- Publishing and journalism
Key Components
- Instructor's Manual: pp. 107–113
- Study Guide, Vol. II: pp. 28–38
- Documents Set, Vol. II: pp. 271–288
- Test Item File: pp. 180–188
Key Web Sites
Given the changing nature of the Internet, you may wish to preview these sites. Always check PHSchool.com for updated links to U.S. history sites.
- LSU Libraries Federal Agency Directory
- William Jennings Bryan's speech "Cross of Gold"
- Oz'n Ends (Populism in Baum's Wizard of Oz)
Key Words and Terms
- Tammany Hall
- spoils system
- Circuit Courts of Appeals Act
- The Grange
- Social Gospel
- Populists
- Greenbacks
- Frederick Jackson Turner
- Spanish-American War
Suggested Pacing
As mentioned in the previous Focus Lesson, Chapters 19 to 21 examine a theme of the late-nineteenth century. Chapter 20 highlights the growth of government, politics, and imperialism. Allow approximately four weeks of study for the three chapters. You might allot four 90-minute class sessions or six 45-minute classes to Chapter 20.
Test Strategy
In asking questions during class discussion, occasionally ask for the "most significant," "the least likely," "the most important," and "the best example" to give students practice thinking in terms of qualifiers for questions and answers. While many questions on the AP* exam will require a factually accurate answer (something either is or is not correct), some questions will require that students evaluate an answer on the basis of a qualifier such as most or least.
Key Concepts
- Development of political bosses
Students should be aware of the importance of political parties and their structure during the Gilded Age. Of key interest is the development of the spoils system from city government to national government and the reform that began during this era. Help students make the connections and trace the development of the importance of Tammany Hall. Have them read Chapter 3, p. 66; Chapter 13, p. 365; and Chapter 20, pp. 584 and 587, all of which discuss Tammany Hall. - The election of 1896
This election can be looked at as a conflict over three solutions to the economic problems that the nation faced. Republicans saw the depression of 1893 as the result of overproduction and threats to the gold standard and wanted to maintain the gold standard and increase international trade. The Democrats believed the depression was the result of the gold standard and wanted free silver in its place. Populists believed the depression resulted from an undemocratic economy and wanted to replace it with free silver and other reforms, such as government ownership of the railroads, a graduated income tax, and direct election of senators.
Summing Up Student Understanding
To reinforce the importance of the Populists and the silver issue, invite students to research the symbolism in Frank Baum's book The Wizard of Oz. A Web site to aid in the search is listed above. Students should look for information about gold versus silver, the labor movement, politicians, and Coxey's Army. Have students answer the following questions: In the BOOK, what color were Dorothy's shoes? Why were they silver?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
You might also find these additional readings useful in developing students' background knowledge or for DBQ activities:
- American Issues: Vol. II Since 1865, edited by Unger and Tomes—Chapter 4
- The Power of Words: Vol. II From 1865, edited by Breen—Chapter 5
- Constructing the American Past, Vol. II, edited by Gorn, Roberts, and Bilhartz—Chapter 5
- American Experiences: Volume II From 1877, edited by Roberts and Olson (secondary source readings)—Part Three