Lesson Plan
New York Public Library

The Great Migration: Two American Tales Lesson Plan: The Immigrants' Experiences

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Part of an online exhibit that describes the experiences of migrants to the cities of the United States. Two American Tales asks students to compare and contrast the nearly contemporaneous experiences of European immigrants and...
Lesson Plan
PBS

The March on Washington and Its Impact : Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learn about the social conditions in the United States that led up to the Civil Rights Movement. Also, explore peaceful resistance and the immediate impact of the march.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Electrifying America

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This collection of primary sources explores the introduction of electric power to the United States.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: Schedule of Houston and Texas Central Railway, 1879

For Students 9th - 10th
See what cities were connected via the Houston and Central Texas Railway after the Civil War by looking at this railway schedule from November 7, 1879. This series of primary source documents details the growth of interconnectivity of...
Unit Plan
University of Minnesota

U Mn: Immigrants & Cities: Mapping Ethnic Enclaves in Early 20th Century Us

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource couples a visual and descriptive map of urban ethnic enclaves with an oral interview by an immigrant growing up in New York City. Its goal is to provide different ways of "mapping" or understanding life for immigrants...
Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Corporations and Cities

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Brief historical description of the growth of corporations and trusts at the end of the 1800s and how that trend led to the growth of urban areas to house this corporate movement.
Primary
US Census Bureau

U.s. Census Bureau: Gazetteer Files

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Gazetteer Files provide a listing of all geographic areas for selected geographic area types. The files include geographic identifier codes, names, area measurements, and representative latitude and longitude coordinates. There...
Article
Thinkport Education

Thinkport: Made Clear: What Is Mid Atlantic Climate Change?

For Students 9th - 10th
Climate change is impacting every nation and continent on Earth- including the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Find out how.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: New Dimensions in Everyday Life

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief overview of the changes brought about because of the United States becoming more urban. Read about the attention to social reforms, the introduction of professional sports, and the ability to take part in leisure activities.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: "Kill the Indian and Save the Man": Native American Representation

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the impact of US government policies of assimilation, relocation, and urbanization on Native American identity and culture in this series of videos from the American Masters film Words from a Bear: N. Scott Momaday. Years...
Handout
US Department of State

America.gov: Megalopolis

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent definition of a megalopolis. Begins with the creation of Megalopolis and delves into the dominant theme which is "Urban-ness." The "Changing Patterns in Megalopolis," are also discussed.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Era of Expansion and Reform

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource, a speech by Woodrow Wilson to Congress on April 8, 1913, gives a great review of how the United States transformed from from a rural country to an urban one. It includes a review of industrialization, new inventions,...
Website
Other

U.s. History Timeline: 1865 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
A thumbnail look at the many things occurring in the United States in the last half half of the 19th century. The topics covered are Gilded Age Politics, the "New Imperialism," Industrial America, Growth of Labor, Urbanization,...
Website
US Senate

U.s. Senate Committee on Banking: Home

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn more about the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at this website. "The Committee has a broad jurisdiction over the operation of our nation's financial institutions, housing and mass transit programs." This site is...
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Hamilton vs. Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
The conflict that took shape in the 1790s between the Federalists and the Antifederalists exercised a profound impact on American history. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, who had married into the wealthy Schuyler family,...
Graphic
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise

Jewish Virtual Library: Israeli Population Statistics Table

For Students 9th - 10th
A table sorting population demographics by religion, age, and urban centers.
Handout
US Department of State

America.gov: Foundations of Human Activity

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent overview of the immigration activity and subsequent settlement patterns of the United States. Discusses major reasons for population shifts and growth of population centers.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: City & Town

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
Article
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: 19th Century: Roman Catholics & Immigration in 19th Century America

For Students 9th - 10th
Essay answers the question, "Why did so many Catholics come to the United States at this time?" The potato famine, urban industrialization, chance for a new life, are among some of the answers.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Progressive Era to New Era, 1900 1929

For Students 3rd - 8th
This website defines and explores the Progressive Era and various aspects of American society during that period of history. It contains fairly simple text and several images.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Modern City

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Charters of Freedom: The Constitution: Amendments 11 27

For Students 9th - 10th
Check here to read the three amendments passed during the Progressive Era, the 16th, 17th, & 18th amendments. From the National Archives and Records Administration.
Primary
Calisphere: University of California Libraries

University of California: Calisphere: 1900 1940s: Growing Ethnic Diversity

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source images highlighting the diverse immigrants who came to California in the early 20th century and some of the challenges they faced.
Website
Other

Nccp: Who Are America's Poor Children? [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the basic facts regarding children in American who are living at poverty levels or below. The numbers of children in poverty appear to be increasing to almost 13 million. The sheet identifies which ethnic groups have the most...