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| The Rise of Modern America |
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PRE / POST VISIT LESSONS |
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Read a historical novel such as The Alienist by Caleb Carr or Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. Write a list of historical terms—terms not commonly used today—that you found in the novel and define them if possible. How do events in the novel compare with your knowledge of the actual time period and setting? Compare and contrast the lives of the characters in the novel and your life today.
Read The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. What do you notice about social restraints, customs, and etiquette in this novel? How would you react to such a lifestyle? How are aesthetics such as the home and costumes described? What does this imply about how they are valued by society? Create your own etiquette manual. Be as strict or lenient as you wish.
Five Amendments to the Constitution were passed and ratified during the Victorian Age in America. Research the 13th through the 17th Amendments. What is each amendment about? What were the consequences (social, economic, political) of each? How did they change American society? How did society respond to these amendments? What are your impressions?
Political cartoons satirize (parody) historical figures and events. Analyze a Victorian Age political cartoon (see samples provided below). What do you see in the cartoon, and how is it presented? What is the historical basis of the cartoon? What do you think the artist is trying to convey to the viewer? Political Cartoon, Sample 1Political Cartoon, Sample 2
Hold a press conference as a historical figure from the Victorian Age in America. Choose a president, African American leader, laborer, capitalist, suffragette, or another individual. Research your person and prepare a short speech to present to the class. Include a biography as well as a platform—concerns, requests or demands that your historical figure would have. After your speech, hold a brief question and answer session. Be creative and consider a prop or costume.
Research and prepare a presentation of Victorian American cuisine, fashion, music, or gardens. What was popular during the Victorian Age? Why? How does this compare with contemporary culture? Include visuals or audio in your presentation.
Divide the class for a labor versus management debate. Choose general characters (worker, management) or a specific individual (Andrew Carnegie). What does your side want? How do you propose to get it? Each side will make their proposal, and then the rebuttals will begin. After the debate: What did your debate accomplish? How do these results compare with what actually happened? Compare labor then and now. What changes would you have made during the Victorian Age? What changes would you make now?
Look at this copy of the portrait of Angelica Schuyler Crosby. When analyzing the painting, look closely and keep in mind your knowledge of the Victorian Era, and especially the role of women at that time. What do you see in this painting? What is the figure doing? What do the props (for example, the parasol) tell you about her? What does the setting tell you about her? What do you think about the status and background of the figure? If this painting has a message for the viewer, what do you think that message is? |
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The Rise of Modern America |
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