In 1927, responding to the seemingly overpowering claims of advertisers and mass …
In 1927, responding to the seemingly overpowering claims of advertisers and mass marketers, engineer Frederick Schlink and economist Stuart Chase published Your Money's Worth, which argued for an "extension of the principle of buying goods according to impartial scientific tests rather than according to the fanfare and triumphs of higher salesmanship." Your Money's Worth became an instant best-seller, and the authors organized Consumers' Research, a testing bureau that provided information and published product tests in a new magazine, Consumers' Research Bulletin. The 1929 stock market crash heightened suspicion of consumer capitalism, and the magazine had 42,000 subscribers by 1932. In 1933, Schlink and Arthur Kallet (executive secretary of Consumers' Research) published 100,000,000 Guinea Pigs: Dangers in Everyday Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics. The book struck a responsive chord in depression-era America--it went through thirteen printings in its first six months and became one of the best-selling books of the decade. The book's first chapter ("The Great American Guinea Pig"), gave a flavor of their vigorous arguments.
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in …
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. It also granted them equal protection under the laws and guaranteed due process of law. Those are considered its most important provisions today. That wasn't always the case, however. Why did it take so long for the Supreme Court to affirm these provisions of this significant Amendment, and what does that say about politics at the highest court in the land?
Our guide to the 14th Amendment is Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago School of Law.
The deadly lung disease silicosis is caused when miners, sandblasters, and foundry …
The deadly lung disease silicosis is caused when miners, sandblasters, and foundry and tunnel workers inhale fine particles of silica dust--a mineral found in sand, quartz, and granite. In 1935, approximately 1,500 workers--largely African Americans who had come north to find work--were killed by exposure to silica dust while building a tunnel in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia. Ordinarily, silicosis takes a several years to develop, but these West Virginia tunnel workers were falling ill in a matter of months because of exposure to unusually high concentrations of silica dust. The crisis over silicosis suddenly became a national issue, as seen in this article in the radical newspaper Peoples' Press . In 1936 congressional hearings on the Gauley Bridge disaster, it was revealed that company officials and engineers wore masks to protect themselves when they visited the tunnel, but they failed to provide masks for the tunnelers themselves, even when the workers requested them.
This primary source is the speech given by Francis Willard, President of …
This primary source is the speech given by Francis Willard, President of the World's Women's Temperance Union, at the organization's 20th annual convention. In it, she details women's roles in the Temperance Movement and how the Temperance Movement intersected with other social movements.
This site recounts the struggle for control of Hawaii between native Hawaiians …
This site recounts the struggle for control of Hawaii between native Hawaiians and American business interests in the late 1800s. This 1897 petition and a lobbying effort by native Hawaiians convinced the U.S. Congress not to annex the islands. But months later the U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana and the Spanish-American War began. The U.S. needed a mid-Pacific fueling station and naval base.
Primary source images, standards correlation, and teaching activities are included in this resource.
Presidents Washington ($1), Lincoln ($5), Jackson ($20), and Grant ($50) all appear …
Presidents Washington ($1), Lincoln ($5), Jackson ($20), and Grant ($50) all appear on currency. But what about this guy Alexander Hamilton on the ten-spot? How did he get there? A sawbuck says you'll know the answer after reading this piece.
We needed an Act of Congress to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment. Is …
We needed an Act of Congress to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment. Is it still doing its job?
It came after decades of discrimination, violence and disenfranchisement -- President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, "an Act to enforce the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States." That Act worked. In the decades since, though, states and the Supreme Court have changed what that Act means and can do.
Our guides to this sweeping legislation are Sonni Waknin of the UCLA Voting Rights Project and Gary May, author of Bending Towards Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy.
This ‘Tournament of Presidents’ activity gives students an opportunity to evaluate the …
This ‘Tournament of Presidents’ activity gives students an opportunity to evaluate the presidents using a "bracket style" competition. Students will examine individual leadership characteristics that are key to the success of the chief executive. Students will utilize C-SPAN Presidential resources with special emphasis on the C-SPAN's 2021 Historians Survey of President Leadership.
The 1920s was a decade of increasing conveniences for the middle class. …
The 1920s was a decade of increasing conveniences for the middle class. New products made household chores easier and led to more leisure time. Products previously too expensive became affordable. New forms of financing allowed every family to spend beyond their current means. Advertising capitalized on people's hopes and fears to sell more and more goods.
This resource is a list of audio books, videos and lesson plans …
This resource is a list of audio books, videos and lesson plans that support students’ development of an accurate, integrative, and comprehensive knowledge of our nation’s history with a focus on the critical role African Americans played and continue to play in our country’s development.
This resource features suggested books for 5th grade that support students’ development …
This resource features suggested books for 5th grade that support students’ development of an accurate, integrative, and comprehensive knowledge of our nation’s history with a focus on the critical role African Americans played and continue to play in our country’s development.
This resource features transformative learning strategies for 5th grade that support students’ …
This resource features transformative learning strategies for 5th grade that support students’ development of an accurate, integrative, and comprehensive knowledge of our nation’s history with a focus on the critical role African Americans played and continue to play in our country’s development.
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, stunned virtually everyone in the …
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, stunned virtually everyone in the U.S. military: Japan's carrier-launched bombers found Pearl Harbor totally unprepared. In this 1991 interview, conducted by John Terreo for the Montana Historical Society, serviceman Orville Quick, who was assigned to build airfields and was very near Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941, remembers the attack. He also provided a vivid, and humorous, account of the chaos from a soldier's point of view.
According to Wisconsin’s Historical Society, African Americans have been living and working …
According to Wisconsin’s Historical Society, African Americans have been living and working in Wisconsin since the 18th century. The state's black population continued to grow slowly throughout the 19th century. Job opportunities in the 20th century led to significant African American settlement in Wisconsin, primarily in the southeastern part of the state, especially after World War II. These resources will support Wisconsin teachers in integrating historical accomplishments and experiences of African-American’s into their instruction on Wisconsin’s history. Source: The Wisconsin Historical Society houses one of the nation's largest research collections on African-American history.
According to Wisconsin’s Historical Society, African Americans have been living and working …
According to Wisconsin’s Historical Society, African Americans have been living and working in Wisconsin since the 18th century. The state's black population continued to grow slowly throughout the 19th century. Job opportunities in the 20th century led to significant African American settlement in Wisconsin, primarily in the southeastern part of the state, especially after World War II. These resources will support Wisconsin teachers in integrating historical accomplishments and experiences of African-American’s into their instruction on Wisconsin’s history. Source: The Wisconsin Historical Society houses one of the nation's largest research collections on African-American history.
According to Wisconsin’s Historical Society, African Americans have been living and working …
According to Wisconsin’s Historical Society, African Americans have been living and working in Wisconsin since the 18th century. The state's black population continued to grow slowly throughout the 19th century. Job opportunities in the 20th century led to significant African American settlement in Wisconsin, primarily in the southeastern part of the state, especially after World War II. These resources will support Wisconsin teachers in integrating historical accomplishments and experiences of African-American’s into their instruction on Wisconsin’s history. Source: The Wisconsin Historical Society houses one of the nation's largest research collections on African-American history.
Educators will find helpful resources to assist them in highlighting and paying …
Educators will find helpful resources to assist them in highlighting and paying tribute to Wisconsin’s African American men and women who have made significant contributions to the state, the nation and the rest of the world in the fields of science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment, and many other fields.
Children benefit from seeing and talking to individuals from different ethnic and …
Children benefit from seeing and talking to individuals from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. This list of volunteer guest speakers supports an individual teacher or school in their efforts to showcase African-Americans, young and old, in WI . The guest speakers list have a variety of different backgrounds and represent a multitude of professions. School personnel should contact the Education Committee guest speaker liaison, Gerald Sternberg, to obtain information on how best to contact the volunteer guest speaker and topics of interest.< geraldsternberg2@gmail.com>
Sample curricula across K-12, syllabi, lesson plans and experiential learning activities can …
Sample curricula across K-12, syllabi, lesson plans and experiential learning activities can assist educators in augmenting their current curriculum content and student learning experiences. These resources promote and support the teaching of American history through a lens that includes the significant contributions and experiences of African-Americans. Material is organized by grade level to match the conceptual, social-emotional and development needs of students. In some cases, downloadable materials are available. A variety of field trips in support of experiential learning involving historical sites across the state are listed. Contact information for arranging a visit is provided.
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