In late 1939, the United States Bureau of the Census was gearing up for the 16th official enumeration, or count, of the nation's population. Authorities wanted to insure widespread participation. So, they made good use of some information revealed in the 1930 Census--namely that roughly 40 percent of American households had a radio set. In…

When Americans from the eastern part of the United States began moving west in large numbers in the mid-nineteenth century, tensions escalated and conflicts erupted between and among settlers, railroad workers, ranchers, the United States military, and numerous Native American tribes. Incorporating balanced consideration of these diverse and…

Discusses the present ideal of land ownership compared to the views of Jeffersonian democracy. Traces the concept of the American dream and Jeffersonian ideals through Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath." Offers suggestions for teaching about the Great Depression and the novel by demonstrating the conflict of Jeffersonian ideals and the…

Maintains that policies that recognize the commercial value of resources and offer rewards for actions that preserve rather than deplete them, offer the best chance for environmental protection. Discusses recent experiments where the right to harvest a resource is sold as a commodity. Examines the role this plays in conservation. (MJP)

Describes an educational game designed to help students (fourth grade through adult) understand how financial markets work within the free enterprise system and how the basic economic principles impact the stock market. Discusses the paper and Internet versions of the game and provides some teaching guidelines. (MJP)

Traces the problems of water overuse to the fact that many farmers are allowed to use water at a fraction of its real cost. Maintains that government subsidies promote misuse and abuse of this resource. Proposes two solutions: environmentally friendly water prices and environmentally friendly water ownership. (MJP)

Reviews the theories of 18th-century social scientist Thomas Malthus regarding population and his predictions of massive worldwide famine. Maintains that countries with a tradition of private property rights can sustain a dense population and food supply. Examines the relationship between low birth rate and economic prosperity. (MJP)