miriam “ma” ferguson - mcmurry · pdf file6 miriam ferguson jim ferguson character...

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson:First Woman Governor of Texas

Activity Book &Teacher’s Guide

Developed byCarlyn E. Kahl

McMurry UnivesityAbilene, Texas

© 2006 by State House PressAll Rights ReservedAvailable on-line at:

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Activity Book & Teacher’s Guide

Character Webs: Miriam and Jim Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Inference Organizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Character Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Characterization Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Venn Diagram: Miriam and Jim Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 2 Sequence of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .




Wordfind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wordfind Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Match-up Memory Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Writing Prompts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lesson Plan 1: Impeachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lesson Plan 2: The Great Depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lesson Plan 3: Women and Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Table of Contents

Miriam “Ma “ Ferguson: First Woman Governor of Texas

4

Miriam

FergusonJim

Ferguson

Character web:

Miriam

FergusonCharacter w

eb:Jim

Ferguson


5

Inference OrganizerFrom the text

(quotes, details, or events)What I Already Know(through my experiences)

What I Conclude(what conclusions can I drawfrom what is in the text and

what I already know)

6

Miriam Ferguson Jim Ferguson

Character Differences

CharacterWhat are thecharacter’s

physical attributes?

What actionsdoes the

character takein the story?

What does thecharacter sayin the text?

What are thecharacter’sthoughts?

What do otherpeople in the

book say aboutthe character?

MiriamFerguson

JimFerguson

Characterization Table



7

Com

pare Miriam

and Jim Ferguson using a V

enn Diagram

8

Chapter 2Read the chart below. Fill in the missing chronological event.

Miriam attended Salado College.

Jim passed the bar examination and became a lawyer.

Miriam’s father Joseph Wallace died of meningitis.

Which of the events listed below belongs in the empty box?

A. Miriam and Jim married.

B. Miriam attended Baylor Female College.

C. Miriam’s mother died.

D. Miriam attended college at the University of Texas in Austin.



9


Miriam and Jim married on December 31, 1899.

Jim opened a bank in Temple.

Jim was impeached for misuse of public funds.


A. The Fergusons’ two daughters were born.

B. Ouida Ferguson married George Nalle.

C. The Ferguson family moved back to their ranch in Bosque County.

D. Jim was elected governor in 1914.

10


Miriam ran for governor in 1924.

Miriam won the governor’s election of 1924.

Miriam entertained frequently in the Governor’s Mansion.


A. Miriam lost her re-election campaign to Dan Moody.

B. Miriam’s father died.

C. Miriam’s mother died.

D. The Ferguson family moved to Belton.



11


Miriam was re-elected governor in 1932.

America entered World War II.

Miriam died on June 25, 1961.


A. Jim died.

B. Miriam took a vacation to Hollywood.

C. The Fergusons moved into a house in west Austin.

D. Lyndon Baines Johnson won the 1948 campaign for Texas Senator.

12


Word FindZ C N I V W O R K S P R O G R E S S O P T Q U B E C K N T B L A C K F R I D A Y H U B A Y L O R Y O U I D A J O N S T N I I W R D U Y H L S N I A M O P L E A S R N W E F F Z B W Q U E C I H D F G L E T A M R I K U K L U X K L A N S A E F E Y U O P J T K L M E L J Y U S A O L O M S G A W A E S P E R I B D C O W M E E K I U T P A M A N D A G T E P N E A C R B X R B A M P L W K L H E P U M Y F T G D T A R C K L A H O R T I C U L T U R E G H T T K E E D C V Z N P A B B N G I P E T E B A A C O B L P I R D C E N F C L D R D O R R A C E J Y N I M E R I D I A N E A N D J L K L M H G S M L T P D T A H M W N M K E K T E K D O U G H B O Y S I A S I O U R G O V E R N O R S E L W B K I S E P D F W N V Z C O P N I U H U Y N K C A M E R I C A N P A R T Y Q R H W K C I V I L I A N C O N S E R V A T I O N


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Word Find Questions1. Miriam’s middle name was _____.

2. Miriam’s eldest daughter is named _____.

3. Miriam’s youngest daughter is named _____.

4. The Fergusons had a family ranch in _____ County.

5. Jim first opened a bank in _____, then in _____.

6. Both Jim and Miriam were elected to the _____ office.

7. The scientific term for gardening is _____.

8. Miriam fought for reform in the _____ system.

9. While Miriam was in office, she helped to bring _____ to rural farms.

10. Miriam was given a broom during her campaign race to help her sweep away the _____ __________.

11. Miriam drove a _____.

12. Jim ran in the Presidential election of 1920 on the _____ _____ ticket.

13. Miriam was adamant about the apprehension of bank robbers _____ and _____.

14. Depression programs such as the _____ _____ Administration and the _____ _____ Corps helped employ thousands of people during a time when jobs were hard to find.

15. The day the stock market crashed in 1929 is known as _____ _____.

16. W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel worked for a company that sponsored a radio program featuring the musical talents of the Light Crust _____..

17. The Ferguson family was close friends with Senator Lyndon Baines _____, who would become the _____ President of the United States.

18. In January 1925, Miriam Ferguson was the first woman _____ as the governor of Texas.

19. Jim had to pass the _____ examination before practicing law.

20. Miriam first attended _____ College before she enrolled in _____ Female College.

21. Miriam was terrified of _____ and hated thunderstorms.

22. The Ferguson ranch in Bosque County was close to a town called _____.

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Crossword10.

1. 9.

7. 8.

8.

7.

2. 6. 1. 9.

2.

3. 10.

4. 6.

3.

5.

4.

5.

Across1. Ma Ferguson’s first name2. a pardon for offenses against the

government3. an unusually long period without rain4. a contagious disease that causes open sores5. when an elected official is charged with

crimes

Down6. a national secret organization known for

promoting the idea that white people are superior to minorities, particularly African-Americans

7. a breathing disorder8. a woman who fought for the right to vote

for all women9. Miriam’s father died of this disease10. the period in American history when the

selling of alcoholic beverages was illegal


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Chapter QuestionsChapter 21. What subjects did Miriam study while

attending Salado College?a) scriptureb) mathc) foreign languagesd) historye) all the above

2. How did Miriam meet Jim Ferguson?a) at churchb) while attending a college eventc) he was her neighbord) at a political party

3. What illness did Miriam’s father contract while driving his cattle to auction?a) pneumoniab) cancerc) arthritisd) meningitis

Chapter 31. What activity did Miriam like to do

outside?a) play ballb) gardenc) take long walksd) ride horses

2. Miriam liked to socialize and host parties while she lived in Belton.a) Trueb) False

3. What illness did Miriam have that prevented her from being outside as much as she would have liked?a) anemiab) meningitisc) tuberculosisd) asthma

4. What were some of the issues that Jim faced during his first term as governor?a) border securityb) public educationc) Ku Klux Kland) prohibitione) all of the above

5. What is impeachment?a) When a peach is picked from a tree.b) When a person serves as a govern-

ment official.c) A campaign to elect a person for a

government office.d) When an elected official is charged

with committing a crime.

6. Under what political party did Jim run for President of the United States in 1920?a) Republican Partyb) American Partyc) Democratic Partyd) Green Party

7. What was the name of Jim Ferguson’s newspaper?a) Ferguson’s Firstb) Ferguson Finalistc) Ferguson Forumd) Ferguson Fanatic

8. Miriam entered herself in the gubernatorial race of 1924.a) Trueb) False

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Chapter 41. When Miriam first started campaigning,

she felt comfortable speaking in front of several people.a) Trueb) False

2. What were the symbols of Miriam’s gubernatorial campaign?a) a garden shovel and overallsb) a white robe and a broomc) a baby stroller and a Texas flagd) a broom and a sunbonnet

3. Miriam approved of the antics of the Ku Klux Klan.a) Trueb) False

4. What was Miriam’s campaign slogan?a) “Everyone needs a Ma!”b) “Two Governors for the Price of

One”c) “If Jim could do it, I can, too!”d) “The woman’s choice.”

5. What is a suffragist?a) a person who suffers from a life-

long illnessb) a person who runs for public officec) a person who fought for women’s

rights, specifically the right to vote

d) a person who crosses the United States border illegally

6. All suffragists supported Miriam for governor in 1924 because she was a woman.a) Trueb) False

7. Miriam approved the sale of alcohol.a) Trueb) False

8. How old was Miriam when she won her first term as governor?a) 25b) 35c) 50d) 65

9. Jim actively participated in Miriam’s gubernatorial terms.a) Trueb) False

10. Miriam was pleased with the decisions she made while in office.a) Trueb) False



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Chapter 51. After Miriam lost her re-election cam-

paign, she and Jim removed them-selves from politics.a) Trueb) False

2. What event started the Great Depression?a) the stock market crash of 1929

(Black Friday)b) the Dustbowlc) World War Id) World War II

3. What were some of the issues Miriam faced during her second term in office?a) prison reformb) prohibitionc) the legalization of horse-race

bettingd) helping rural farms obtain

electricity

4. Who was Miriam’s main political oppo-nent in the gubernatorial race of 1940?a) Coke Stevensonb) Lyndon Baines Johnsonc) W. Lee “Pappy” O’Danield) George Parr

5. Miriam remained active in politics until her death in 1961.a) Trueb) False

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Amnesty A pardon for offensesagainst a government.

AsthmaA breathing disorder,

sometimes severe, oftencaused by allergies.

Match-up Memory GameEach glossary term is matched up on the right with its definition.

Cut each square out on the dotted line, shuffle the squares, then laythem out in rows and columns. Divide the children up into groups

and let them play at trying to match up the glossaryterm with its definition.


Black land

The rich black soil found in a wide band across

Central Texas; good forfarming, as compared to the sandy soil found inother parts of the state.

DroughtAn unusually long periodwithout rain; sometimes

called a drouth.

ImpeachmentWhen a public official is formally charged with

crimes.


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Ku Klux Klan

A national secret organiza-tion known for promotingthe idea that white peoplewere superior to African-

Americans; at their meetings they wore white

robes and hoods which hid their faces.

MeningitisAn infection of the

membranes around thebrain and/or spinal cord.

Invalid Not valid or well founded;indefensible.


Ratify To accept or approve, andthereby make legal.

RecluseSomeone who rarely

leaves home or receives visitors.

SmallpoxA contagious, and

oftentimes deadly, disease that causes open sores onthe skin that often leave

scars.


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SuffrageThe right to vote, usuallyapplied to women in the

nineteenth and early twentieth century.

SuffragetteA woman who fought togain the right to vote for

all women.

Stroke

A rupture of blood vesselsin the brain, sometimescausing loss of speech, loss of memory, and/or

paralysis. Severe strokescan cause death.



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TenantFarmer

A farmer who works landbelonging to someone elseand pays the rent with a

portion of the crops.

ProhibitionRefers to the period inAmerican history when

the sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal.

GubernatorialA reference to the office of

the governor; Presidential is to President

as gubernatorial is to governor.

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Writing Prompts1. Miriam only ran for one political office (governor), but her husband Jim ran

for several public offices including governor, senator, and even for President of the United States. Research three political offices and then write a paragraph on each one describing the responsibilities that office holds.

2. Miriam’s most famous campaign slogan was “Two Governors for the Price ofOne,” but she used other slogans including “Me for Ma.” Describe the purpose of a campaign slogan. Then list what your campaign slogan would be if you ran for office in a political election, and why you chose that slogan.

3. Miriam loved to garden and grow plants in her greenhouse. Describe what a greenhouse is and how it functions. Then list what plants or flowers youwould grow if you had a greenhouse.

4. Jim Ferguson was impeached and Miriam came close to being impeached herself. Research and describe the impeachment process (Article 15 of the Texas Constitution). (See the State of Texas website at www.capitol.state.tx.us/txconst/toc.html for information about the Texas Constitution.

5. Miriam Ferguson was the first woman governor of Texas. If you could pick any woman to be the governor of Texas today, who would you pick and why?

6. There have been several women elected to serve as Texas public officials. Choose one and write a one page biography about her and her political views.

7. Both Jim and Miriam Ferguson were very active in politics and had to writemany campaign speeches. Write a campaign speech about a topic you feelstrongly about.


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Lesson Plan 1Impeachment

Instructional Suggestions:

1. Define the term impeachment and discuss its meaning in class.

2. Use number 4 of the “Writing Prompts” section of the workbook. Then hold a classroom discussion on their findings.

3. Divide the class into three groups. Have one group research which Texas governors havebeen formally impeached and why. Set another group to research other state offices and see if any of their officials have been impeached. Have the last group research which United States Presidents have been formally impeached and why. Have each group present their findings to the class and discuss what each group has found.

4. Have a mock impeachment hearing. a) Decide who will be impeached and why.b) Assign students to different roles (public official, defense attorney, prosecuting

attorney, judge, witnesses, etc.) and have each student develop a script for his/her character.

c) Play act the mock trial and discuss the outcome.

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Lesson Plan 2The Great Depression


1. Define what the Great Depression was and identify some of its causes.

2. Discuss what programs were started to help alleviate the unemployment rate and what those programs did. Can we still see those efforts today?

3. Prohibitiona) discuss what prohibition was and why it was legalizedb) what were the ramifications of prohibition

1) economic2) moral3) legal

c) discuss why prohibition was finally lifted and what restrictions are put on the purchase of alcohol today

d) lead a discussion on alcohol abuse and what can be done to treat it


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Lesson Plan 3Women and Politics


1. Discuss the history of women in politics.a) discuss the methods the suffragists used to bring awareness of their cause to the

public and how they were perceived by the public and the media

2. Women politicans:a) Use number 1 of the “Writing Prompts” section of the workbook. Then list the

women politicians that have served in those offices.b) Use number 6 of the “Writing Prompts” section of the workbook. Then compile the

biographies into a classroom anthology.c) Use number 5 of the “Writing Prompts” section of the workbook then disuss the

women that the students chose.

3. Political campaigns:a) Use number 7 of the “Writing Prompts” section of the workbook and have the

students write a campaign speech. Let each student present his/her speech to the class. Then, have a class debate over some of the topics covered in the campaign speeches.

b) Have the students design and produce campaign posters highlighting the issue/issues talked about in their campaign speeches.

c) Have a mock election where students go to the polls and vote for different classroom positions (room leader, supply organizer, bathroom monitor, birthdayand announcement commentator, etc.). After the election, let the students tallythe results and present their findings.

d) Have a classroom discussion about the differences between elections during Miriam Ferguson’s life and today. Talk about voting restrictions and regulations, especially those pertaining to minorities or lower income people. Then, talk about voting restrictions today and compare the two time periods.

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Answer KeyPage 8: b (found on page 18)

Page 9: d (found on page 32)

Page 10: a (found on page 52)

Page 11: c (found on page 53)

Page 12:

Page 13: 1. Amanda2. Ouida3. Dorrace4. Bosque5. Belton; Temple6. governors7. horticulture8. prison9. electricity10. Ku Klux Klan 11. Packard12. American Party13. Bonnie; Clyde14. Works Progress; Civilian

Conservation15. Black Friday16. Doughboys17. Johnson; thirty-sixth18. inaugurated19. bar20. Salado; Baylor21. lightning22. Meridian

Page 14: 1. Miriam2. amnesty3. drought4. smallpox5. impeachment6. Ku Klux Klan7. asthma8. suffragette9. meningitis10. prohibition

Page 15, Chapter 2:1. e (found on page 18)2. c (found on page 19)3. d (found on pages 23)

Page 15, Chapter 3:1. b (found on page 26)2. b (found on page 26)3. d (found on page 26)4. e (found on pages 33-34)5. d (found on page 37)6. b (found on page 40)7. c (found on page 40)8. b (found on page 40 sidebar)

Page 16, Chapter 4:1. b (found on page 41)2. d (found on page 41)3. b (found on page 45)4. b (found on page 42)5. c (found on page 44)6. b (found on page 44)7. b (found on page 44)8. c (found on page 46)9. a (found on page 47)10. a (found on page 52)

Page 17, Chapter 5:1. b (found on page 53-54)2. a (found on page 56)3. e (found on pages 58-59)4. c (found on page 61)5. b (found on page 63)

Page 24: Answers will vary

Z C N I V W O R K S P R O G R E S S O P T Q U B E C K N T B L A C K F R I D A Y H U B A Y L O R Y O U I D A J O N S T N I I W R D U Y H L S N I A M O P L E A S R N W E F F Z B W Q U E C I H D F G L E T A M R I K U K L U X K L A N S A E F E Y U O P J T K L M E L J Y U S A O L O M S G A W A E S P E R I B D C O W M E E K I U T P A M A N D A G T E P N E A C R B X R B A M P L W K L H E P U M Y F T G D T A R C K L A H O R T I C U L T U R E G H T T K E E D C V Z N P A B B N G I P E T E B A A C O B L P I R D C E N F C L D R D O R R A C E J Y N I M E R I D I A N E A N D J L K L M H G S M L T P D T A H M W N M K E K T E K D O U G H B O Y S I A S I O U R G O V E R N O R S E L W B K I S E P D F W N V Z C O P N I U H U Y N K C A M E R I C A N P A R T Y Q R H W K C I V I L I A N C O N S E R V A T I O N


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