Building Blocks

Technology shapes society and identity, both in the past and present. By exploring the role of technology in history, we can better understand how it has shaped the country’s character.

Following the chaos of World War I and the Spanish Flu, the 1920s was a period dominated by social change. Nicknamed “The Roaring ’20s,” the decade saw people redefining American culture in positive and negative ways. In this inquiry, students examine cultural movements and events of the 1920s to determine what made them roar.

A renaissance brings to mind transition, change, invigoration, and widespread influence. Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s was a vibrant hub of literary, artistic, and musical expression. This inquiry asks students to consider the coexistence of social and political tension with a celebratory and hopeful future as they determine what elevated the African American experience…

The Great Migration reshaped not only African American life but also the cultural fabric of the entire United States, laying the groundwork for greater visibility, recognition, and influence of Black culture. This inquiry provides experiences for students to analyze the movement of African Americans from 1890 to 1960 to understand the scale and scope of…

Ellis Island was the main entry point for millions of immigrants coming to the United States. The moment of arrival is part of many people’s understanding of American identity. This building block inquiry explores how photographs and visual representations help shape our understanding of key events and how we build memories of historic events.

Photographs of immigrants from the early 1900s offer important insights into their communities. At the same time, photographs from the era required long exposure times, were taken in black and white, and did not always provide a complete or unbiased view of reality. In this inquiry, students explore images of Chinese immigrant communities in the…

Choropleth population distribution maps use shading to show how population varies across different regions. By comparing the shades on the map, students can identify population patterns and see where people are, and are not, concentrated. These maps allow a unique opportunity for students to practice key geography skills like map reading and identifying patterns while…

The media influences our opinions about public policy by deciding which issues receive the most attention and how topics are covered. Political cartoons in the early 1900s helped shape public opinion about many topics, including immigration. The changing demographics of immigrants during the period were accompanied by a rise in nativism—or anti-immigration sentiment.

Industrialization in the early 20th century changed warfare in fundamental ways. Technological innovations during World War I, made possible by industrialization, made war more destructive than ever before. At the same time, medical and scientific advancements helped save lives. In this building block inquiry, students explore both the destructive and constructive costs of industrialization on…

Rapid industrialization in the early 20th century dramatically changed the nature of work in the United States. In 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire revealed just how unsafe working conditions were. 146 garment workers, most of whom were young immigrant women, died when a fire broke out in a factory with locked exit doors and…