19th Century Reformers Speed DatingAPUSH - Vanderploeg
1. You choose your persona – We will choose characters based on your participation points. Have multiple choices!
*You may choose from any of the following:
●Elizabeth Cady Stanton
●Lucretia Mott
●Susan B. Anthony
●Margaret Fuller
●Lydia Finney
●Catharine Beecher
●“Mother” Anne Lee
●Charles Finney
●Robert Owen
●Henry David Thoreau
●Ralph Waldo Emerson
●Dorothea Dix
●Horace Mann
●Noah Webster
●James G. Birney
●William Lloyd Garrison
●Lewis Tappan
●Lyman Beecher
●Joseph Smith
●John Humphrey Noyes
●Frederick Douglass
●Harriet Beecher Stowe
●Neal S. Dow
●John Audubon
●Dr. Sylvester Graham
●Walt Whitman
●Angelina (or Sarah) Grimke
2. Complete the Speed Dating Profile Form about your person to bring to Speed Date. Forms will be due to the teacher at the beginning of class (Yes, I am collecting your paper so I can check it as I listen in on your dates).
3. Create a notecard for your own use to have during the speed dating rounds.
Example:
PlatoI came with my friend and fellow Greek, Aristotle. We are the old guys in the room. I am nervous, never done this before, but I think the idea is very stimulating! Seeking knowledge, using logic and reason, these ideas were taught to me by my teacher Socrates. He would be happy to see these thinkers doing the same thing.
I know that there has been a lot of talk about education. I agree that all should be educated. But I believe the main purpose of education is to be a good citizen.
I know that Greece is the birthplace of democracy, but I am not a fan of this form of government. I think it is just chaos. No, the best kind of rule is by someone very intelligent, like a philosopher king.
4. Make/find a prop that signifies your character.
5. Make a business card that you will exchange with all your potential matches during the speed date with your “perts” on it. Use an online template such as to create your cards. Make sure there is a picture included so we can see what you look like!
6. In class you will speed date with other reformers from the 19th centuries. You may or may not like them. Your goal is to find a “match” or “matches”; people you can relate to, allies who have the same political, social, or economic interests or ideals.
7. Each “date” will last 3 minutes. Approx. 1 minute for each person and a minute to write appropriate “content” notes.
8. Rules for the speed date:
●Be ready and prepared! Know who you are because you will only have your single, brief notecard to work from!
●Be in character the whole time. (Use first person language)
●Have your prop and business cards with you for the duration of the activity.
●Ask questions - give answers - participate!
●Get to know the other person.
●Complete the notes chart with information on the people you meet.
●Learn something - find your “match” (es)
●HAVE FUN!
9. What am I grading?
●Your information sheet (Profile Form)
●Your business card and prop
●Your communication during the event
●Your ability to stay in character during the event
●Your completed information chart (you will print this and complete it during the event)
APUSH Speed Dating Profile Form Student Name:
Reformer:
Region:
What was your issue?
Years you were effective:
Bio/How did your childhood/education/upbringing affect your views?
What is the most important problem facing the nation and how would you fix it?
How did you come to care about your issue?
Accomplishments:
What effect did you have (short and long term)?
Who were your colleagues/friends?
What obstacles/challenges/ “haters” did you face? How did you deal with them?
Political Beliefs:
What do you enjoy?
Your perfect “match” would be……
Your “dealbreaker” is…..