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Chronological Reasoning and Causation

Women's Rights Inquiry

  1. Load Petition of Sarah Robins, "a free-born Indian woman," to Governor Robert Hunter, ca. 1711 in Main Document Viewer
  2. Load Letter from Mary A. Young to NYS War Council, Committee on Discrimination in Employment, 1942 in Main Document Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Setting the Stage 
​Students discuss the following question: How does voting give citizens power to influence society and government? Is voting the only way for citizens to exercise their power to change society?
 
Supporting Questions
How was Sarah Robbins treated in the early 18th century and what action did she take to change the way she was treated?
 
What problems resulted from the industrialization of the United States and how did women try to solve those problems?
 
 
What issues did women face after they could vote and how did they try to change these situations?
 
Formative Assessment
Students answer the supporting question using evidence from the document.
 
List the problems created by industrialization and discuss the perspective of the women represented in the documents.
 
Identify the issue raised by Mary Young’s letter and discuss the Mary’s perspective on this issue using evidence from the document.
 
Argument
Discuss the issues that faced women from the 18th century through the twentieth century and explain the ways these women made their voices heard.
 
Extension
Research the voices of women in the history of your local community. How did women influence society and government throughout the history your community?
 
Taking Informed Action
In what ways are women actively making your community better today? Reach out to women active in your local community and find out how you can participate in their activities.