Expanding Public Education
Mr. White’s US History 1
Big Questions
As you complete these notes, think about
these questions:
What advantages do higher levels of education
give to people?
How has the expansion of public education made
life better for Americans?
Before Expansion of Public
Education
Before public education expanded, most
children only went to school for about four
years
Since most children’s families farmed, there
was not much need to go much longer
Mandatory Schooling
Between 1865 and 1895, many states passed
laws requiring school attendance for children
8 to 14
Emphasized memorization, used corporal
punishment
Children still begin attending school at an
earlier age, and for longer
High School
Business leaders pointed out that it was
important to train skilled workers for the
future of business
By 1900, half a million students attended
high school
Curriculum included science, civics, social
studies
Expansion of Higher Education
College enrollment quadrupled between 1880
and 1920
Colleges worked to prepare people for
industry and business
Education Inequalities –
African Americans
Mostly excluded from American public schools –
elementary and high school
Many sought higher education, but there weren’t
many people who would help fund these
universities
Booker T. Washington – started a teacher’s school
to train African Americans as teachers
W.E.B. DuBois – started Niagara movement, which
insisted that African Americans should get a college
education so that they could be good leaders
Discussion Question
What are some of the advantages you have in
terms of education that people 100 years ago
didn’t always have? How have these helped
your life?
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