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In the Classroom > Course Overview > Unit Overview
Lessons: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Lesson 2: National Trends Create Regional Change: Agriculture Gives Way to Industry

Lesson Central Questions:

In This Lesson:

In what ways are the economic conditions in the country repeated in Deerfield and the Connecticut River Valley?

Lesson Length
Key Ideas
I.L.O.s
Preparation
Materials
Activities

Lesson Length

2 class periods (85 minutes each)

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Key Content Ideas Taught in this Lesson and Teacher Background

In the 1800s, rapid national changes influenced Deerfield and the Connecticut River Valley, appearing as changes in the landscape and new challenges to everyday life.

Teacher Background Essay: Industrial Change and Effect

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Intended Learning Outcomes

Understandings
Students will understand:

  • Industry and technology reshaped life in Deerfield and the Connecticut River Valley

Skills
Students will be able to:

  • Make inferences from readings and be able to articulate causality.
  • Present learned information to adults and peers.
  • Locate historical information on a website to support presentations.

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In Preparation for Teaching

Read Teacher Background Essay: Industrial Change and Effect

Further Background Reading

Juravich, Tom et al. Commonwealth of Toil. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, 1996.

Trachtenberg, Alan. The Incorporation of America. New York: Hill and Wang, 1997

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Materials

Primary and Secondary Sources:
Unless otherwise noted, these can be found on the American Centuries website using accession numbers given in parentheses.

  1. World's Fair – Chicago 1893 (L02.134)
  2. Shirtwaist Factory Fire Website
  3. Kings' Handbook of the United States (L02.133)
  4. Picturesque Hampshire (L02.135)
  5. Picturesque Franklin (L98.056)
  6. Labor Issues - Child Labor Article (L01.060)
  7. Women and Work (L01.120)
  8. Massachusetts Growth of Industry (Statistics): Eastern MA and Western MA (L02.054, L02.055, L02.056, L02.057.)
  9. Connecticut Valley Industry: Russell Cutlery (1991.28.02, 1987.07, 1997.31.23)
  10. Deerfield: Arms Manufacturing Company (1996.12.0044, 1996.12.0046, 1999.03.0023), Pocketbooks (1986.12b, 1986.25.01)
  11. Edward Swan's Pickle factory, South Deerfield (1996.37.01.062), Greenough Horseradish Pickling, Deerfield (1991.06a-b)
  12. Agriculture: Tobacco (1997.08.01.0021, 1990.023, 1997.08.01.0087)
  13. Newspaper Articles: Greenfield Gazette and Courier (advertising pages) (L02.159, L02.164)

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Activities Materials in Context

Class Period 1: National Economic Growth

  • In groups, discuss conditions that must exist in order for an industry to thrive.
  • As these groups report their ideas, develop a master list on newsprint.
  • Invite students to research the national growth of industry, 1880-1920, and then write a short general informational report (listing sources) to include the following:
  • - Capitalists
    - Types of Industries
    - Related Social/Environmental/Health issues
    - The Rise of Unions.

Class Period 2: Connecticut Valley Economic Growth

  • Hold a conversation with the class about what they learned from their research on national industry.
  • Set up learning stations. Invite students to rotate through at least two stations. They should take notes and be prepared to answer the following questions:
  • - Describe the industries that dominated in the Connecticut River Valley during this time.
    - Describe the workers that each industry employed.
    - What raw materials were needed for factory production? How were they obtained?
    - Who sold the finished product?
    - Did the railroads factor in to their distribution?
    - Can you find the value of the produced goods over time?
    - What happened to the concept of agriculture as the basis for an economy?

  • Select from one of the following choices to further investigate. The research will culminate in an article to be added to the newspaper.
  • Research a labor issue that could arise in any industry.
    - Cite the cause, the reform needed and the action taken by the workers.
    - Describe the community's reaction to the labor unrest.
    Research the factory workers' experiences.
    - Compare the life of a worker in Turners Falls with that of one in Boston.
    - Write an advertisement for a position in each factory. Include a picture of the factory and tell of the working hours and conditions.

For Class Period 1:

World's Fair – Chicago 1893 (L02.134)

Shirtwaist Factory Fire Website

Kings' Handbook of the United States (L02.133)

For Class Period 2:

Picturesque Hampshire (L02.135)

Picturesque Franklin (L98.056)

Labor Issues - Child Labor Article (L01.060)

Women and Work (L01.120)

For Learning Stations:

Massachusetts Growth of Industry (Statistics): Eastern MA and Western MA (L02.054, L02.055, L02.056, L02.057.)

Connecticut Valley Industry: Russell Cutlery (1991.28.02, 1987.07, 1997.31.23)

Deerfield: Arms Manufacturing Company (1996.12.0044, 1996.12.0046, 1999.03.0023), Pocketbooks (1986.12b, 1986.25.01)

Edward Swan's Pickle factory, South Deerfield (1996.37.01.062), Greenough Horseradish Pickling, Deerfield (1991.06a-b)

Agriculture: Tobacco (1997.08.01.0021, 1990.023, 1997.08.01.0087)

Newspaper Advertisements: Greenfield Gazette and Courier (L02.159, L02.164)

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