Social Studies - United States History II
Lesson Plans

U.S. II Strand 2: REFORM MOVEMENTS

(Ca. 1880-1920)

Industrialization and urbanization changed American society in fundamental ways. Reform movements grew in response to these new realities. Urban settings made it easier for people to organize reform movements and recruit new members. The women's suffrage movement, the Progressive movement, the rise of the temperance movement, and the growth of a number of additional labor, health, and educational reform movements developed as individuals and groups worked to solve society's new challenges.

Possible Guiding Questions to Consider:

• Why do people turn to reform movements?
• What conditions must exist for a reform movement to begin?
• Why were some methods used to bring about change more successful than others?
• How have today's social and political reforms been affected by those that took place from the 1880s to the 1920s?
• How is daily life today influenced by earlier social and political reform movements?
• What process is required to amend the U.S. Constitution? What inferences can we make about U.S. history by studying amendments to the Constitution?

U.S. II Standard 2.4:

Students will evaluate the short- and long-term accomplishments and effectiveness of social, economic, and political reform movements.

• A crash course on voting and the US political system
  Ted-Ed videos on 'Does Your Vote Count? The Electoral College explained', 'How do US Supreme Court justices get appointed', 'There's no such thing as not voting', 'Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?", Gerrymandering: How drawing jagged lines can impact an election", "How is power divided in the United States government?", "How to understand power", and "What's needed to bring the US voting system into the 21st century"
• Constitution EXPLAINED: The Presidency Changes
  iCivics video about the impact of the 10, 22, and 25 amendments on the office of the President.
• Constitution EXPLAINED: Who Chooses the President?
  iCivics video about who chooses the President
• Election Foundations
  PBS Learning video about how the US Constitutional Democracy created, empowers, and limits the office of the president. Information is provided about why presidential elections happen in the United States. Video available in both English and Spanish.
• Free and Fair Elections
  This is a great explanation for teachers and students about the standards that governments need to meet before, during, and after an election to ensure that the election is "free and fair".
• One Person, One Vote: Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims
  Video - Justices O'Connor and Breyer discuss the principle of one person, one vote. Specific focus on the Baker v. Carr case
• Women and the Right to Vote
  Did the Nineteenth Amendment provide women with more than the right to vote? Which Amendment process was used? How did this Amendment affect the United States in the last one hundred years? All of these questions and many others are discussed in this lesson.
• Women's Suffrage: Their Rights and Nothing Less
  Lesson plan and primary sources from the Library of Congress about Women's Suffrage in the United States

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.