Social Issues of the Gilded Age


U.S. History Gilded Age Social Issues of the Gilded Age
Students make observations about a drawing of twelve women sitting on a jury in 1902. Then they watch a video about continuity and change in the Gilded Age, and apply the concepts to four groups: African Americans, immigrants, women, and children. Next they focus on the Chinese Exclusion Act and infer why Congress singled out Chinese immigrants. Finally they choose one of the four groups and predict what Progressive Era activities would try to “fix” the social problems of that group.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students make observations about a drawing of twelve women sitting on a jury in 1902. Then they watch a video about continuity and change in the Gilded Age, and apply the concepts to four groups: African Americans, immigrants, women, and children. Next they focus on the Chinese Exclusion Act and infer why Congress singled out Chinese immigrants. Finally they choose one of the four groups and predict what Progressive Era activities would try to “fix” the social problems of that group.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 4 to scene 5.

Objectives:

  • Analyze the effects of Plessy v. Ferguson.
  • Explain the impact of industrialization on women, children, and immigrants.


In this unit you have learned about economic and political developments of the Gilded Age. What effect did these changes have on people’s lives? Recall that the Gilded Age is named for a satiric novel, which explores how most people did not benefit from the wealth being generated from industrialization and big business. In this experience, you will learn about the social issues for minority groups during the Gilded Age.

Objectives:

  • Analyze the effects of Plessy v. Ferguson.
  • Explain the impact of industrialization on women, children, and immigrants.


drawing of twelve diverse women sitting in a jury box: some from high society, some look very poor, one clad in Western-style clothing

Studies in Expression: When Women are Jurors, 1902, by Charles Dana Gibson.
Women hardly ever served on juries in 1902, the year of this drawing,
except in rare cases involving women defendants.


Describe the women in the drawing.

Post your answer

According to the Library of Congress exhibit, The Gibson Girl’s America: “Gibson uses the jury as a device for visual study of women from diverse social backgrounds as they respond to a hypothetical case. He skillfully delineates an array of social types as seen in the wide range of ages, and varied dress and headgear that indicate socioeconomic status. Their expressions run the gamut from skeptical to incredulous to disdainful to pitying.”

Ask students to predict how this jury of women represents the Gilded Age.


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