Ethnic Fraternal Societies and Mutual Aid: An American Tradition with Old World Roots
By using primary sources, this activity introduces students to the concept of fraternal societies and mutual aid associations, their defining characteristics, the types that existed, their economic and social roles in people’s lives, and how and why they grew and then declined in membership. Students explore the diversity of the organizations among immigrants, African Americans, and the majority population and make some gross comparisons among them.