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From Reconstruction through the turn of the 20th Century, the United States developed a prosperous industrial economy that revolutionized American society. New machines made the mass production of goods possible. Industrial growth led to a new type of business, the corporation, headed by a rising class of enterprising industrialists such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. With little government interference, these corporate giants created new business structures, some legal and some not, that brought them fabulous wealth. They used their riches both to benefit society and to increase their power. Industries attracted a new type of laborer, the factory worker, who often worked long hours in hazardous conditions. These conditions spurred the growth of labor unions, which gradually gained the right to bargain with employers.
Industrialization triggered new opportunities for workers. New building technologies sparked an explosion of urban growth that brought social changes, both good and bad. A prosperous middle class emerged, while urban crowding and disease took a heavy toll on the working poor, many of whom were immigrants. New arrivals came in waves, first from western Europe (“Old Immigrants”), then from eastern Europe (“New Immigrants”). Despite widespread discrimination and intense adversity, many immigrants prospered in their new homeland.
- During this time in our nation’s history, three themes became evident:
Immigrants from across Europe poured into the United States.
The rise of new cities gave the nation an increasingly urban character.
Poor working conditions for factory workers, falling crop prices for farmers, and corrupt politics led workers to organize labor unions to protect their rights.
Directions:
You will research the period from the end of the Reconstruction (1877) to the early 20th Century (1915). You may use library resources or any other information that pertains to the time period such as newspapers and magazines. While in the library, you should be deciding on which events will affect your character. Use the following guidelines so that you keep up with the assignment and do not put off the work until it is too late.
The culmination of your research will be to write a THREE TO FIVE (3 – 5) PAGE narrative essay describing your life as an immigrant who was 16 years old in 1877 who lived through the turn of the 20th century, and is 54 years old in 1915. Your essay should cover the entire thirty-eight year period, but remember – this paper is NOT to be a timeline or listing of events. It is a creative and historically accurate first person narrative.
Be sure to research and incorporate SPECIFIC political, social, and economic issues that impacted the individual in your paper.
· political (dealing with government);
· social (dealing with people and society); and
· economic (dealing with money) conditions.
You need to discuss economic, political and social issues that affected immigrants living during this time period in your paper. Be sure to give equal attention to all three issues (economic political and social) in your paper.
Also, when you do your research, be sure to write down where you get your information. You need to include an MLA properly formatted bibliography.
Paper Due Date: ____________________________
- Reminder – Late papers will lose 20% a day.
The paper should have a minimum of THREE pages (no more than FIVE), be word processed in 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced, and with standard margins (one-inch) on all sides (illustrations or pictures do not count as part of the page requirement.) The paper should have at least three (3) sources, which may include the textbook.
* Remember, this is not a typical research paper. You are writing a creative and historically accurate first person narrative. In a first person narrative essay you are telling a story, sequence of events, or even a flashback, while using specific, accurate historical facts.
Grading.
The research paper will be graded according to the attached rubric.
POINTS
20
15
10
5
Creativity of the Narrative
The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment.
The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment.
The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story.
There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Accuracy of Facts and Historical Information
All facts presented in the story are accurate. Political, social, and economic issues are included and given equal attention.
Almost all facts presented in the story are accurate. Political, social, and economic issues are all included but one issue may be given significantly more attention.
Most facts presented in the story are accurate (at least 70%). Missing either political, social, or economic issues.
There are several factual errors in the story. Missing either political, social, or economic issues.
Requirements
All of the written requirements (# of pages, font and spacing, topic coverage, works cited page, etc.) were met.
Almost all (about 90%) the written requirements were met.
Most (about 75%) of the written requirements were met, but several were not.
Many requirements were not met.
Grammar and Mechanics
There are almost no spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors in the final draft.
There are some spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors in the final draft.
There are several spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors in the final draft.
The final draft has many spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors.
Organization
The story is very well organized. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.
The story is pretty well organized. One idea or scene may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.
The story is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear.
Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged.
Name:
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