City Centers in U.S. History

A Unit for High School Students in U.S. History and Economics Courses

Click here to download the complete unit—or download one of the individual case studies below.

Keys to History: Economics Glossary/History Time Line

What is Invisible and Everywhere?--How the Economy Works

Case Studies of U.S. Economic Development

Boston

The City Center

Chicago

City Connections: Railroads to Chicago

Farming Progress in a City: McCormick's Reaper

Social Change: Hull House

Labor Change: The Haymarket Confrontation

New York / Philadelphia

City Connections: River Transportation

Consequences of Change: The Auto and the Airplane

Economic Development: One City Neighborhood

Framework for Developing a Case Study

Teaching Resources for this Unit:

Project Bibliography

Glossary of Terms

The Schumpeter/Gras Model: Explanation/Discussion

Teaching Notes for the Case Studies

More Resources