Life in Southwest Washington, 1890s-1960s
Description
With railroads fully operational and new industries expanding the population of Washington, local communities and interests began to promote themselves. New settlers meant more money for development and progress, and local Chambers of Commerce and other civic groups began advertising the benefits of the region.
Along with these inducements to new settlers, the collection contains pieces of ephemera relating to everyday life in the growing communities of southwest Washington in the first half of twentieth century.
Teaching Tips:
These documents chart some of the changes to daily life in the early twentieth century, including the impact of politics and government, new people and entertainment, and growing industries from innovations in transportation. What does this moment in time look like? What did these big themes of U.S. history mean to the people living in these communities? How might it compare to life in the Eastern United States? Or life in Washington 50 or 100 years earlier?
Classroom-Based Assessments: People on the Move
Social Studies EALRs:
2. ECONOMICS The student applies understanding of economic concepts and systems to analyze decision-making and the interactions between individuals, households, businesses, governments, and societies.
3. GEOGRAPHY The student uses a spatial perspective to make reasoned decisions by applying the concepts of location, region, and movement and demonstrating knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures impact environments.
4. HISTORY The student understands and applies knowledge of historical thinking, chronology, eras, turning points, major ideas, individuals, and themes in local, Washington State, tribal, United States, and world history in order to evaluate how history shapes the present and future.
5. SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS The student understands and applies reasoning skills to conduct research, deliberate, form, and evaluate positions through the processes of reading, writing, and communicating.
