Assignment Problem:
PROMPT: Different eras in American history have had significant influence on the way the social work profession has evolved. Select ONE of these time periods and respond to the prompts. Integrate information from the readings, articles, video material, or other sources, in your response.
Time Period: Select ONE:
- The post-Civil War (post-1865) Freedman's Bureau, large numbers of widows, orphans, disabled veterans, and former slaves migrated to northern states;
- Industrial Revolution (early l800s- early 1900s) growth of industry, coal, steel, textiles, transportation, railroads; immigration, labor growth, urbanization.
- The Progressive Era (1890s-1920s) Social and political activism, settlement houses, government reforms, labor reform, women's suffrage;
- The Great Depression (beginning 1929) during which millions lived in abject poverty and social service delivery shifted from the private to the public sector;
- The 1960s, a time when our country experienced dramatic social and political changes that shed light on social programs and groups that had been living with oppression; Civil Rights, Women's Rights, Voting Rights, Native American Rights, Stonewall Riot;
- The "conservative revolt" of the 1980s' Reagan and Bush administrations, when funding for domestic programs was slashed (Hopps et al., 2008).
Respond to each of the prompts, below:
1. Provide an example of an historical event during the selected time period and discuss its relevance to a social issue at that time.
2. Explain the relevance of the event or social issue, today.
3. Describe the relationship of this event or issue to social work.
4. Discuss its meaning to you.