One important influence during the Progressive Era was the use of photography to bring to attention to people about the conditions existing around the country. Such imagery made it harder for people to ignore or to deny that such conditions existed. For example, these early photojournalists captured images of young children working in different occupations around the country and revealed some of the inhumane housing conditions found in tenements.

As a class, imagine that we are working to create an art gallery presentation highlighting the work of progressive-era photojournalists. To create the gallery, first we will create a mock-up of what the gallery will look like using a slideshow presentaiton.

Step 1. For this assignment, find at least three photographs related to the Progressive era, taken between 1890 and 1920. For example, look for pictures of young children, immigrants arriving in America, families living together, or of lesser-known subjects. The focus of the art gallery is to show how the images raised awareness of life in America, which led to the Progressive movement, so your images should highlight some aspect of American life was in need of reform or improvement. You can use the Library of Congress, the National Archives, Digital History, or another resource or website that contains these images. You can choose any images that interest you.

Download and upload each of the images into your own copy of the Google Slides Gallery Presentation. (To make a copy, go to “File > Make a Copy.” Note that you may also choose to download the presentation as a PowerPoint presentation and make edits that way). Include the link to the original source of your image.

Step 2: Answer the questions that follow in the notes section inside of each Google slide:

1. What influenced you to select this picture? What interests or moves you about this picture? Do you have questions about this picture?
2. How would you describe this picture? What can you learn about the people or the nature of the work? What is the setting in which this picture was taken? Can you tell what is happening in the picture?
3. Do some research about the Progressive-era to get more background context for the photo. For example, if the picture is of child labor, what were the conditions of the workplace where these young children worked? If the photo is of a tenement, describe the living conditions there.
4. How do you think the image you selected might have impacted the Progressive movement? What movement, law, or change came about because of images like this one?

Step 3: On the first slide introducing your images, write a paragraph that introduces your pieces in the gallery and discusses the significance or impact of the pictures that you selected.

Step 4: Submit your completed presentation.

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