Political Corruption

Business wasn't the only way to get rich in the late 19th century-there was also politics. The Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt New York City officials led by William March Tweed (1823-1878), is believed to have stolen anywhere from $40 million to $200 million in public funds. Many of these men saw no wrong in what they did. One of Tweed's cohorts, George Washington Plunkett, explained his form of "honest graft" to a journalist as follows: "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em ... I'm tipped off, say, that they are going to lay out a new park at a certain place .... I go to that place and I buy up all the land I can and then there is a rush to get my land. Ain't it perfectly honest to charge a good price and make a profit on my investment 

and foresight? Of course, it is. Well, that's honest graft."

Do you agree that there is such a thing as "honest graft"? Do you think politicians should be allowed to profit from insider information? 

Dangerous Working Conditions

On January 10, 1860, there was a terrible accident at Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Seventy-seven people mostly girls less than 12 years old-died when the building collapsed on them. The
victims' families were given very little compensation. One observer called it "the respectable millionaire homicide." 

Do you think rich people are held to a different set of laws than other people? Explain. 

Haymarket Square Strike

On May 3,1886, police fired into a crowd of striking workers at McCormick Reaper Company in Chicago, killing four people. The strikers held a protest rally the next day at Haymarket Square. A bomb exploded during the rally and killed seven police officers. The rally's organizers were quickly arrested and convicted, despite the fact that the actual bomber was never identified. Four men were hanged and three were jailed. Illinois governor John Peter Altgeld (1847-1902) pardoned the three survivors in 1893, a move that ruined his
political career. 

Do you think the organizers of the rally should have been convicted? What do you think of Governor Altgeld? Would you have done as he did and pardoned the survivors? Would you have done so even
if you knew it would cost you your career? Have you ever had to make a decision where doing what was right would hurt you in some way? Explain. 

Immigration Restrictions

Throughout history, Congress has passed laws to restrict immigration. Sometimes these laws were aimed at specific countries, like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States for 10 years. Others were aimed at entire regions, such as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from Europe. Others were aimed at classes of people,such as an 1882 immigration act that barred entry to criminals, paupers, and the insane, among others.

Why do you think Congress passed some of these restriction acts? Do you think Congress always acted honorably? Should anyone who wants to live in the United States be able to live here, or should there be some restrictions on immigration? Defend your thinking. If you believe there should be restrictions, explain what they should be. 

Ellis Island

Ellis Island was opened on January 1, 1892. The immigration center helped send many newcomers to the United States on their way, but sent back those who were sick or otherwise deemed unfit to live in this country.

Where did your ancestors come from? How might your life be different if your ancestors had been sent back to their native countries? 

"Give Me Your tired, Your Poor ... "

Millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island were welcomed by the sight of the Statue of Liberty on Bledsoe Island in New York Harbor. The base of the statue is inscribed with a poem written by American poet Emma Lazarus (1849-1887):
 " ... Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" 

Imagine you are an immigrant seeking freedom from war in Russia or hunger in Ireland. Write how you would feel seeing the Statue of Liberty after your long voyage across the Atlantic. 

Andrew Carnegie's "Gospel of Wealth"

Andrew Carnegie made a fortune in the steel industry and went on to give a good deal of it away. In an 1889 speech, "The Gospel of Wealth," Carnegie proclaimed that the rich had a responsibility to use their money to help others. He said, "The man who dies . . . rich dies disgraced."

Do you agree with Carnegie that the rich have an obligation to help others? Explain your reasons. If you had millions of dollars, what would you do with it? Would you feel you should help others less fortunate than you? Give reasons for your answer

Monopoly

A monopoly is a company or group of companies that controls the supply of a product or a service. In the late 1800's, individuals such as John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) and J. P Morgan (1837-1913) established large monopolies that came to be known as trusts.

Imagine there is only one company that makes blue jeans. How do you think that would affect the price, supply, and variety of blue jeans available? Do you think that any monopolies exist today? If so, what, if anything, should be done about them?

Robber Barons

Robber Barons In the late 1800's, many men made fortunes by taking unfair advantage of natural resources, cheap labor, or their influence over the government to build up their businesses. These men became known as robber barons.

What do you think would drive a person to become a so-called robber baron? Do you think the way such people run their businesses is wrong? Explain whether or not you think there are robber barons today.

Westward Expansion

How did mining, railroad building, and ranching  affect the development of the west.

Railroads and Native Americans

There were many wars between the U.S. government and the Plains Indians. How might a railroad worker have experienced these conflicts?

Farmers and Populism

How did farmers interact with the railroads? What changes might have been apparent to a railroad worker?

Indian Surrender

Upon surrendering to the United States Army in 1890, Chief Joseph the Younger 0840-1904) of the Nez Perce Indians spoke the following Words:

“. . . Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From Where the sun

now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

Imagine you are a Nez Perce Indian. Explain how you would feel after bearing these words. Then imagine you are a US. soldier who has been fighting against the Nez Perce Indians. Explain how you would feel after bearing Chief Joseph's words.

Buffalo and the Indians

Many Indians relied on the millions of buffalo that once roamed the Great Plains for their survival, and they made the most of these great mammals. They made clothing, moecasins, tepees, furniture, and drums, among other things, from buffalo hides. They ate buffalo meat and used it in religious ceremonies. They made food, paint, and Cosmetics from buffalo fat and marrow. They used buffalo fur ceremonially and to make rope. They used buffalo hoofs ceremonially and to make tools and glue. They used the buffalo’s bladder as a storage pouch, They even used buffalo dung as fuel.

What can we learn about conservation from the way the Great Plains Indians made use of the buffalo? Brainstorm a list of ways you can conserve natural resources. Choose one and persuade others how and why they should adopt the conservation measures you suggest.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830

President Andrew Jackson (1 767-1845) believed that the only Way to end the fighting between Whites and Native Americans Was to “remove” all Indians from lands east of the Mississippi. To this end, he helped pass the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This law evicted major Indian tribes from 1and east of the Mississippi and sent them to“Indian Territory,” in the West.To the Indians, who were reluctant to move, he said, “Young chiefs, forget the prejudices [attachment] you feel for the soil of your birth.”

Do you think the United States government had the right to tell Native Americans to move? Explain why or why not. With do you think of President Jackson's suggestion that Native Americans ignore their attachment to their homeland? How do you think you would have felt upon receiving such a request? What do you think you would have done?

A Different Perspective

Until this century, most of America's history has been recorded and written by white men.
How is it determined who records a country's history? Do you think written history can be biased? Defend your view. How might our American history be different if told from the perspective of say, black women? Some time in the 21st century, people of Hispanic heritage will become the largest single ethnic group in the United States. Do you think our history will be rewritten when our country has an Hispanic majority? Do you think it should be? Explain why or why not

The First Immigrants

The first immigrants came to this land anywhere from 10,000 to 45,000 years ago, crossed a land bridge that once existed across the Bering Sea to migrate from northeast Asia to northwest North America. These immigrants were the ancestors of Native Americans. Think of all the immigrants that came to this land after the Native Americans.
What do you think a Native American might have to say about current efforts to limit immigration?

Immigration Restrictions

Throughout history, Congress has passed laws to restrict immigration. Sometimes these laws were aimed at specific countries, like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States for 10 years. Others were aimed at entire regions, such as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from Europe. Others were aimed at classes of people, such as an 1882 immigration act that barred entry to criminals, paupers, and the insane, among others.

Why do you think Congress passed some of these restriction acts? Do you think Congress always acted honorably? Should anyone who wants to live in the United States be able to live here, or should there be some restrictions on immigration? Defend your thinking. If you believe there should be restrictions, explain what they should be.

Give Me Your Tired

"Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor • • Millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island were welcomed by the sight of the Statue of Liberty on Bledsoe Island in New York Harbor The base of the statue is inscribed with a poem written by American poet
Emma Lazarus
".. . Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" 

Imagine you are an immigrant seeking freedom from war in Russia or hunger in Ireland. Write how you would feel seeing the Statue of Liberty after your long voyage across the Atlantic.

Ellis Island

Ellis Island was opened on January 1, 1892. The immigration center helped send many newcomers to the United States on their way, but sent back those who were sick or otherwise deemed unfit to live in this country.
Where did your ancestors come from? How might your life be different if your ancestors had been sent back to their native countries?