Learning Toolkit: Historical Inquiry With the Statistical Atlas of 1870
8-12
These activities allow students to explore, compare, and contrast information from the 1870 U.S. Census presented in graphical illustrations. They provide questions for students to practice historical inquiry and evaluate the charts. The questions are divided into the following topics: observe, reflect, question, and analyze. This activity may be used to introduce and engage students in the process of historical inquiry and/or to supplement study of economics or demographics of the United States.
data literacy, charts and graphs, information literacy, historical inquiry
In order to aid in the retrieval of information from this publication, significant tables, charts, and/or articles have been extracted and can be viewed individually or across a span of issues.
This lesson aligns with the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards for Historical Sources and Evidence and Causation and Argumentation (D2.His.11.6-8; D2.His.12.6-8; D2.His.13.6-8; D2.His.14.6-8; D2.His.15.6-8; D2.His.16.6-8; D2.His.11.9-12; D2.His.12.9-12; D2.His.14.9-12; D2.His.15.9-12; and D2.His.16.9-12)
Educational resources on FRASER are provided in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and other regional Federal Reserve Banks. Unless otherwise noted, these resources are free and open for individual and classroom use, reuse, retention, and redistribution, within the terms of our Economic Education Permitted Use policy. For questions about specific use cases, please contact us.
- Learning Toolkit: Historical Inquiry with Charts
- The statistical atlases series, with volumes based on the 1870-1920, 1970, and 2000 decennial censuses
- "The Coming Demographic Transition: Will We Treat Future Generations Fairly?" a 2006 speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
