Students investigate Social Darwinism. In this government systems lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on the details of Social Darwinism and American laissez-faire capitalism. Students respond to discussion...

Whisk your students through the politics of the Gilded Age with this presentation, which features the contexts and characteristics of the 1880-1888 Presidential Elections. Clever political cartoons and clear, concise bullet points about...

Eleventh graders investigate industrialization and explain how laissez-faire policies influenced entrepreneurship. On bubble maps, 11th graders locate causes of industrialization. In an activity/demonstration, students role-play as...

In this economics worksheet, students answer a variety of fill in and short answer questions, draw a diagram to illustrate the circular flow of economic activity, and write short essays to address prompts.

Students investigate the inception of Social Security benefits provided by the Government.  In this Social Security lesson, students debate whether or not people should be entitled to receive money from the government....

The incorporation and industrialization of America is covered in this image-rich slide show. While text is limited, there is no shortage of great images showing the progression and causes of American Industrialization. Perfect...

Tenth graders, after reading two excerpts about contemporary child labor situations, discuss two broad questions in detail along with the industrial boom following the Civil War conditions in the United States. They investigate how the...

Instruct your future businessmen and women about the different theories of economics in this informative presentation. With graphs and thorough explanations, these slides would couple well with a lecture on Classical and Keynesian...

A quick overview of the last five years of the 18th century in France, this presentation provides students with key concepts and details about the major changes taking place amidst the Revolution. Though brief at nine slides, a teacher...

Tenth graders role-play a person living in the United States during the 1890s. Students research their role using focus questions about daily life, including standard of living.industrialization. They have the opportunity to ...

Students focus on the problem of African American leadership throughout American history. In groups, they research the life and works of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois and how they worked to promote the need for African American...

In this online interactive world history worksheet, high schoolers answer 25 matching questions regarding French politics during the Reign of Terror. Students may submit their answers to be scored.

For this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to the rise of industry in nation. A short answer question is included as well.

Students examine the Gilded Age in American history. Using the internet, they research the innovations, business, and immigration during this time period. They create a PowerPoint presentation to share their information with the class.

The study resource from Khan Academy provides an overview of Period 6: 1865-1898 in American History. Laissez-faire during the Gilded Age is discussed in this lesson. This resource is designed as a review for the AP US History Test.

Read this transcript of the testimony of Yale Professer William Graham Sumner speaking before a committee of the House of Representatives in 1878. His contention was that even with the thread of depression, it was in business' best...

The economic philosophy of laissez-faire was espoused by Adam Smith in his book, Wealth of Nations. Read about the concepts of this philosophy, how it pertained to American business in the late 19h century, and what the drawbacks to...

Victorian Web provides an essay on the Laissez-Faire Policies of Adam Smith. He believed the government should not interfere with business.

This resource shows the different roles that the government plays in relation to the economy. It talks about the federal budget, the different responsibilities the government has, federal efforts to control monopolies, government...

Overview of the changing federal government role as it increased involvement and intervention in business and social welfare in the 1900s.

As the influence of large corporations spread in the age of big business, push-back was inevitable. Read about the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the government's attempts to rein in the laissez-faire attitudes of corporations and the lack...

Progressivism got a push from the Populist movement, a reaction to the forgettable presidents and laissez-faire government in the Gilded Age. Find a listing of authors who wrote about progressive ideas, and see what influence populism...

Herbert Hoover was a very smart man, but could not save the United States from the Great Depression. Read about his philosophy of government, helping those large coprorations which needed government assistance, and helping individuals...

The government that supported laissez-faire policies and Social Darwinism was finally considered corrupt and immoral. Read about the ideas of the Progressive Era and see how these ideas were put into activist government policy.