Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“A Young People’s History of Your Town, USA: Robber Barons, Howard Zinn, and You”

In this activity, students discover the industrial history and capitalistic roots of their own town, all while connecting that history to the larger themes of capitalism and inequality they have explored while reading A Young People’s History of the United States.

At every turn throughout A Young People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn finds evidence that capitalism and social inequity are foundational, guiding principles in American society. Zinn finds traces of capitalist influence and inequality in histories big and small: in the grand narrative of the US as a nation, but also in the histories of small towns, minor historical figures, and less-than-famous but important events.

In this group exercise, you will discover the history of your town, focusing on uncovering the ways it formed in relation to capitalism and inequality. As a group, research your town’s history during the periods listed below, asking these questions: (1) What were the major political movements happening at this time? (2) Who were the key historical figures influencing government and/or local politics? (3) How do these people/movements link to larger forces of capitalism and inequality?