Oklahoma Social Studies USH.C.2.4.B

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Content Standards

The Standard

USH.C.2: Analyze the social, economic, and political changes that occurred during the American Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, and reform movements.
USH.C.2.4: Analyze and compare the personalities, actions and policies of presidents during the Progressive Era.

Examine President William Howard Taft’s trust-busting agenda, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and formation of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · USH.C.2.4

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students build a timeline of federal action on business practices from 1887 through Taft's presidency. They explain which actions addressed monopolies, railroad rates, or misleading food and drug labels.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students place the ICC's creation in 1887 and the food and drug law in 1906, both before Taft took office. They explain how Taft's antitrust lawsuits and a 1910 law expanded federal oversight.
Common Misconceptions: Students may credit Taft with creating the ICC or signing the 1906 food and drug law. They may think trust-busting meant banning every large company, rather than challenging practices that restricted competition.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Put the ICC's creation, the 1906 food and drug law, and Taft's 1911 U.S. Steel lawsuit in order. Circle Taft's action and explain its goal.

Lesson moves

Have pairs sort dated cards for ICC creation, the food and drug law, and Taft's U.S. Steel lawsuit, then label each action's goal.
Ask: Why might railroad rates and food labels both need federal oversight? Give one specific problem for each.
Read 'railroad overcharges,' 'false medicine label,' and 'monopoly blocks rivals'; students hold up ICC, food law, or antitrust cards.
Show a cereal box label and a sample railroad freight bill; students match each to an earlier federal action and explain why.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to USH.C.2.4.B, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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