Hands-On Activities for Studying the Turn of the Century (late 1800s-early 1900s)

The turn of the century brought with it many changes. These resources and hands-on activities for studying the turn of the century (late 1800s-early 1900s) will help you teach your kids about this time in American history.

This post is part of the Hands-On History Activities Series
 

Many events, both huge and small, shaped our country around this period.

Events that affected the turn of the century:

Immigration.

During the turn of the century, immigration to the United States of America came from several places all around the world. Between 1870 and 1900, the greatest number of immigrants came from northern and western Europe, including Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia. Others cam from Asia, and Latin America.

Your kids will know that many changes in the times could be seen in the lives of the country’s children. Life changed for them in how they worked (yes, worked), played, learned, and made sense of the world.

Street views of New York City in the late 1800s (Videos) | Yesterday Today

Children’s Lives at the Turn of the Twentieth Century | Library of Congress

Systemic racism.

In the times from 1890 to 1940, although slavery had been abolished in 1865, race relations grew worse and worse. Some white Americans became more and more racist. They developed communities called the sundown towns where they were made to be intentionally all-white only.

This racism still has tainted our culture and country today.

I feel so horrible even writing about this right now. However, these are things we should be teaching our children and training them in the way to go – towards being a human race group of Christ-followers. (Let’s pray for our country and our people right now, if you have a moment.)

Anti-Racism Resources for Parents | Rebekah Gienapp / The Barefoot Mommy

Labor tensions.

There were new causes of civil unrest in the nation. With the influx of immigration, there was even less work for people. Once working, of course, immigrants got paid less than men, and women were paid less than men. This all started to brew.

Progressive movement.

Towards the end of the 1800s, a “Progressive” movement emerged that addressed reforms like women’s suffrage, direct election of United States Senators, minimum wage laws, work standards, and more.

By the 1900s, women were able to vote in 4 states (Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming), were out in the workforce, get a proper education, and owned property.

Resources about Women’s Suffrage | The Homeschool Mom

The Spanish-American War.

The Spanish-American war of 1898 was unique: even though the North and South were against each other in the Civil War, they joined ranks here.

The war lasted less than 100 days, and of course, Americans triumphed. The war ended 400 years of Spanish power in the North and South of America.

Spanish American War Activity (Yellow Journalism, Rough Riders, etc.) | Science Spot

Smaller things also shaped American soil during the turn of the century.

Around 1880, Andrew Carnegie constructed the world’s largest steel mill in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, making the U.S. the largest steel producer in the world, producing about 10k tons of steel per year.

Henry Ford, in 1892, built the first gasoline engine car. In 1903 the Ford Motor Company was founded, creating the age of the automobile.

5 Ways to Virtually Explore the Henry Ford Museum | Little Guide

By 1900, telephones were widely used, and cities were electrified. Moving pictures amazed people everywhere, the radio was being developed, and the Wright brothers were experimenting with the first air flying craft machine.

History of Telephones – Timeline and Ordering Activities | Pinay Homeschooler Shop

Resources to Teach Kids About the History of Flight

There was so much going on during the turn of the century. The events that occurred are a crucial part of our nation’s history worth teaching our kids.

Grab these hands-on activities for studying the turn of the century (late 1800s-early 1900s) to help teach your kids about this critical time.

Hands-On-Activities-for-Studying-the-1800s

FREE Modern History Activities & Notebooking: 1900s

Resources to Teach Kids About the 1900s

Life at the Turn of the Century Project | Nikki Schubert

Turn of the Century Project | Dorian Scheuch

Write about an Inventor Newspaper Article – Turn of the Century | ABSeas

Turn of the Century A-Z Task Cards (SS5H1) | Coffee and Clipboards

Coming To America: A PBL unit on turn-of-the-century American Immigration | Teaching Tomorrow’s Leaders

Turn of the Century; Social Studies 5th Grade DBQs | Mundy’s Moments

Important People of the Turn of the Century Brochure Project | Arrrsome in Fifth

Centennial Mirror – Turn of the Century | Corinne Smith

Turn of the Century Ads Analysis Activity | Matthew Scherbarth

Digital Learning – Turn of the Century Inventors- WebQuest- Google Slides | Inspire Teach Grow

America Project Turn of the Century | Matthew Scherbarth

FREE USA Life At the Turn of the Century RAFT project | It’s Possible

Turn of the Century: A Dear America Activity (FREE) | Scholastic

Integrating Reading in the Content Areas with Task Cards (Turn of the Century) | The Creative Apple teaching

10 Awesome 100-Year-Old Crafts for Kids | Mental Floss

Vintage Skills Kids Need | Imperfectly Happy

The U.S. as a World Power | Jodi’s Jewels

Then and Now Worksheets – Items from the Past and Present! | Homeschool Den

1900 Turn of the Century Activities | Scholastic

Turn of the Century Trading Cards: inventions, imperialism, Spanish American War | Bow Tie Guy and Wife

For review:

Turn of Century Assessment Packet (SS5H1, SS5H1a, SS5H1b, SS5H1c, SS5H1d) | Sarah Miller Tech

With the turn of the century, there were new beginnings, yet there was a long way to go for human rights.

Use these hands-on activities to study the turn of the century and engaged kids in learning all about this important time in America’s history.

 
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