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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Growth in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine urban growth in America. In this urbanization lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "Urban Growth in America." Students conduct further research pertaining to the industrial revolution, New York City's...
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Activity
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Public Enemy #1: Gangsters During the Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
"Gangsters" in the Great Depression were divided into two different groups: Mobsters and Outlaws. This article discusses the differences between the two and the role each group played.
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Handout
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Kansas City Massacre: "Pretty Boy" Floyd

For Students 9th - 10th
Features a thorough biographical profile of Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd and the details of the Kansas City Massacre.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hollywood During the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
One can trace the cynicism and despair at the beginning of the Great Depression to a more optimistic point of view by the end of the New Deal by looking at the movies produced by Hollywood. Read about the subject matter of the movies...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Public Enemy #1

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion website for the PBS documentary on the crime spree of John Dillinger, an infamous gangster. Included are a transcript of the film, biographies of people in the film, pictures of gangsters of the era, and a teacher's guide for...
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Graphic
Chicago History Museum

Encyclopedia of Chicago: Gang Map

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the gang territories during the 1920s in Chicago. Shows where each of the gangs had a dominant presence.
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Website
Other

Jazz Age Culture: Part 1

For Students 9th - 10th
Features numerous links to external sites that provide information pertaining to the flapper era, jazz and the Harlem Renaissance, prohibition, racial violence, and crime.
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Activity
Other

Carnegie Public Library: Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the legend of Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd's life as a robber in the 1930s.
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Activity
Other

University at Albany: Organized Crime and Prohibition

For Students 9th - 10th
Features statistics and details about organized crime and prohibition including facts on some of the more colorful gangsters during that era.
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Handout
Chicago History Museum

Encyclopedia of Chicago: Al Capone

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief historical account of infamous member of the Chicago's underworld, Alphonse Capone.
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Activity
Other

Mystery Net: st.valentine's Day Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
The story behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. While gangland warfare was commonplace in Chicago during Prohibition, this attack was unusual because all of the victims were known mobsters.
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Graphic
Curated OER

1960's Gang, the Russian Sharks

For Students 9th - 10th
1960's gang.