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Establishing a Standardized Educational Experience
In the 1640s, Massachusetts allocated resources to publicly create and support schools. In 1827, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the first state to make elementary instruction free to all citizens. By 1929, all 50 states had passed school attendance laws. By the 1950s, a standardized educational experience became the norm, and today we have further standardized curriculum and assessment. -
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Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution forced both men and women to change their lifestyles. Men had to put their focus and energy into their work, now outside of their homes, while women gained more influence over the households. Family roles became more defined. -
Women's Rights Movement
Women's rights began to gain prominence in the late 1800s. The feminist perspective emphasizes women's experiences and their unjust subordination or oppression in social arrangements. -
Ellen Swallow Richards
Ellen Swallow Richards was an American chemist and the founder of the Home Economics Movement in the United States. She attended both Vassar College in 1870 and became the first woman admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was elected as the first president of the American Home Economics Association in 1908, and after her retirement in 1910, she established the association's Journal of Home Economics. -
Origin of Marriage
Philosopher and sociologist Edvard Westermarck described the origin of marriage as a man being the protector and supporter of his family, with the woman being his helpmate and the nurse of his children. However, certain religions practiced polygamy, and after the Industrial Revolution, family roles became more defined. This included the emergence of modern, democratic, companionate, postmodern, and traditional or nuclear families. -
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The Great Depression
At this time, families faced greater challenges for basic survival due to high unemployment, drought, and an unstable monetary system. The Social Security Administration was established in 1934 to assist families with their basic needs. -
Head Start Program
The Head Start Program was established in 1965. It is a child development program that serves children up to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. The program's goal is to increase the school readiness of young children in low-income families. -
Introduction of Medicare and Medicaid Programs
Medicare liability is distributed equally among the poor, middle class, and wealthy, and the funds collected are used to finance the Medicare health insurance program. -
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COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on families, testing the strength of family structures during a time of economic and social struggles. It changed our priorities related to health, work, and school, and required us to learn how to persevere with limited resources. -
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