Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Collection · 15 AI figures
Reconstruction and the Gilded Age
Humy team
15 AI figures for this unit, including Susan B. Anthony, Hiram Revels and John D. Rockefeller. Share one link and students choose who to talk to.
Featuring Susan B. Anthony, Hiram Revels, John D. Rockefeller and 12 more
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card
- Figures
- 15
- Students join
- With a link
- Grading
- None, open exploration
Collection
Preview
Reconstruction and the Gilded Age
- Susan B. AnthonyChat with Susan B. Anthony
- Hiram RevelsChat with Hiram Revels
- John D. RockefellerChat with John D. Rockefeller
- Andrew CarnegieChat with Andrew Carnegie
- Ida B. WellsChat with Ida B. Wells
- Booker T. WashingtonChat with Booker T. Washington
- +9 more figures
The 15 figures in this collection
Susan B. Anthony
Prominent suffragist and women's rights activist.
Hiram Revels
First African American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
John D. Rockefeller
Robust businessman and industrialist, primarily in the oil industry.
Andrew Carnegie
Industrialist and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the American steel industry.
Ida B. Wells
African American journalist, suffragist, and early leader in the civil rights movement.
Booker T. Washington
Prominent African-American educator and leader during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
W.E.B. Du Bois
Civil rights activist and co-founder of the NAACP.
Jane Addams
Social reformer, advocate for women and the poor, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
Cornelius Vanderbilt
American business magnate and philanthropist, known for his dominance in the railroad and shipping industries.
George Washington Carver
Botanist and inventor known for his work with peanuts and other crops.
Andrew Johnson
17th President of the United States.
Rutherford B. Hayes
19th President of the United States.
Thaddeus Stevens
Radical Republican leader during the American Civil War and Reconstruction.
Mary Elizabeth Lease
American writer, lawyer, and political activist, known for her involvement in the Populist movement and advocacy for farmers' rights.
Madam C.J. Walker
Entrepreneur and hair care products pioneer.
Lesson ideas
Embark on an exploratory journey through the complex eras of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. This dynamic assignment offers students a chance to interact with AI representations of influential figures who played pivotal roles during these periods of rebuilding and rapid economic growth. By fostering conversations with key players in politics, social reform, industry, and innovation, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted layers of American history during the late 19th century.
Activities
AI Interactions: Through virtual dialogues, students will delve into the achievements and controversies related to these influential figures, offering insight into their historical significance and the imprint they left on society.
Analytical Essays: Students will write essays that reflect on the connections between Reconstruction policies, societal reform efforts, and the economic transformations that characterized the Gilded Age.
Collaborative Debates: Group discussions within the classroom environment will encourage an exchange of ideas about the social and economic developments of the time and their relevance to contemporary issues.
Learning Outcomes
Achieve a holistic understanding of the challenges and aspirations of America during the Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, including the key conflicts and aspirations that shaped the period.
Enhance critical thinking skills by engaging with the complex interactions between politics, economic interests, social reforms, and innovations.
Develop an ability to articulate and debate historical and current socio-economic and political issues, utilizing historical analysis and evidence-based reasoning.
In your classroom
From this page to your class in three steps.
Open it in Humy
Preview the collection, then choose Activate to add it to your collections. Add or remove figures any time.
Share one link
Students join with their first and last name. No email, no password.
Students pick a figure
Each student chooses who to question and starts a conversation.
Try this collection free
After sign-up, find it under Collections → Community library.
Trusted by educators worldwide
- Conversations
- 375,000+
- Real exchanges between students and historical figures
- Messages exchanged
- 4,142,000+
- Across every figure, classroom and language
- Historical figures
- 1,200+
- Each informed by a curated biography and selected sources
- Languages supported
- 50+
- From English and Spanish to Arabic and Korean
Paying customers
Used by 100+ schools, universities and organisations
What educators are saying
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is in this collection?
15 AI figures: Susan B. Anthony, Hiram Revels, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Ida B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Jane Addams and 7 more. Each one has its own page on Humy.
How do students use a collection?
You share one link. Students see the overview and the list of figures, pick one and start a chat.
How is a collection different from an assignment?
An assignment is one task with a rubric, and Humy grades the work. A collection is a set of figures for open exploration of a topic, with no grading.
Do my students need accounts?
No. Students open the link you share and type their first and last name. No email, no password.
Is Humy free to try?
Yes. A free teacher account includes 20 AI messages a month, shared with your students, plus all five assignment formats and auto-grading. No credit card.
Is Humy.ai safe and compliant for schools?
Yes. Humy.ai is used by more than 100 schools, universities and organisations. The platform is FERPA- and GDPR-aligned, supports SSO, and offers an IT-approval pack tailored for school procurement teams.
Ready when you are
Bring Reconstruction and the Gilded Age to your class.
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card.