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 · 18 AI figures
The Progressive Era
Humy team
18 AI figures for this unit, including Woodrow Wilson, John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. Share one link and students choose who to talk to.
Featuring Woodrow Wilson, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and 15 more
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card
- Figures
- 18
- Students join
- With a link
- Grading
- None, open exploration
Collection
Preview
The Progressive Era
- Woodrow WilsonChat with Woodrow Wilson
- 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
- W.E.B. Du BoisChat with W.E.B. Du Bois
- +12 more figures
The 18 figures in this collection
Woodrow Wilson
28th President of the United States and key figure in the establishment of the League of Nations.
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.
Henry Ford
Innovative industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.
J.P. Morgan
American financier and banker.
Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States, conservationist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Upton Sinclair
Muckraking author and social reformer.
Margaret Sanger
Prominent birth control activist and nurse.
Florence Kelley
Progressive social reformer and advocate for labor rights.
William Howard Taft
27th President of the United States and later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Robert M. La Follette Sr.
American lawyer and politician.
Alice Paul
Suffragist and women's rights activist.
Clarence Darrow
Prominent American lawyer known for his defense in the Scopes "Monkey" Trial and other high-profile cases.
Lincoln Steffens
Muckraking journalist and author.
Lesson ideas
Step into the era of reform and social activism with this enlightening assignment that examines the Progressive Era in the United States. The period saw efforts to remedy issues created by industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and political corruption. Both students and educators will engage with the movers and shakers via an AI chat interface, enabling a deep dive into the motivations and outcomes of their campaigns for change. This interactive experience will provide insight into the social, economic, and political forces that shaped the early 20th century.
Activities
AI Interactions: Participants will converse with historical figures, exploring their contributions and the context of their times to better understand the progressive momentum of the period.
Analytical Essays: Students will compose essays interpreting the reforms advocated during the Progressive Era and the tension between progress and resistance.
Debates and Seminars: Lively group discussions will encourage examination of the era's legacy, enabling students to debate the success and failures of the period's initiatives and their influence on contemporary issues.
Learning Outcomes
Develop a nuanced appreciation of the Progressive Era, including the social movements, reform efforts, and widespread influence on subsequent American history.
Enhance critical thinking through the analysis of primary and secondary sources, fostering an understanding of the period's complexities.
Improve research, communication, and presentation skills by synthesizing historical arguments into a modern-day context.
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
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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?
18 AI figures: Woodrow Wilson, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Ida B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Jane Addams, Henry Ford and 10 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.
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Bring the Progressive Era to your class.
Free teacher account · 20 AI messages a month · No credit card.