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Eric and Rob sit down with Dr. Laura Westhoff to discuss teaching the Progressive Era in the United States.  Laura is a Professor of History and former Department Chair at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.   Laura begins by framing the period as the “long progressive era” noting that the ideas that shaped both the movement and public policy stretched from the late 19th century all the way through the Great Depression.   She explains that the central concern of this era was the so-called “social question,” which was how do people live together in an increasingly complex society shaped by new technologies, new forms of labor, immigration, and rapidly expanding cities.  She suggests that teachers focus on three core concepts including democracy, technology/innovation, and education.  She emphasizes that for progressive era reformers democracy meant something more than just voting.  Following the Depression of 1893, reformers viewed democracy as a way to imagine and create a society that was more humane, seeing people as truly equal and worthy of the rights and privileges of citizenship.  Laura also suggests that teachers use the rise of compulsory education during the Progressive Era as a topic that can explore the complexity of the time.  The rise of almost universal schooling for young people shapes the new concept of adolescence and also serves the goals of both labor unions and social reformers who were concerned about children in the workforce.  The schools that are created at this time become centers of both leisure time activities and assimilation to United States culture.  

Lesson Plans and resources:

The Visions of Democracy in the Progressive Era lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4qjUCHZ

The Educational Reforms in the Progressive Era lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3LA7D0X

Credits

Opening theme music, “Bossa Bossa,” created by Clare Howard www.clarehoward.com  Music supported by the National Council for History Education www.ncheteach.org

Transition theme music, “The Clock is Ticking,” created by Emily Hahn.

Logo artwork created by Jessica Goldman.

Shit I Have to Teach in 20 Minutes is produced by Eric Hahn and Rob Good.  Audio and video editing by Sebastian Rosales.

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