For several years, readers have asked us to create educational lessons and materials from our Truth History research for students and young-adults. We have not found history books or textbooks that explain the truth behind the lies and propaganda of the British Empire – so we are setting out to create our own educational materials. These lessons are written so that the adult learner or teacher can easily grasp the material in story-form, first. Then the teacher can ‘deep-diving’ the resource material at the bottom of the page for formulating individual lessons and assignments for students of all ages, from elementary to post high school. We’d even love to see dissertations written on Troy or any of our coming truth history lessons.
We begin this series with the story of Lillian Scott Troy. From her story, we will build dozens of truth history lesson plans that can enrich your own understanding of modern history and provide truthful history of America to our youth.
Please note that we would like videos and images to accompany each lesson plan. If you are a videographer, film maker, documentarian, movie maker, graphic designer, or artist, please contact me. We have funds set aside for this project and would like each lesson plan to be interesting and robust, for all ages of learners.
Teachers, ask your students to create videos, dramatic plays, or other creative expressions to demonstrate that they understand the life and contributions of Lillian Scott Troy to America. Send us your creations so we can enrich lesson plans with your inspiration and imagination as we crowdsource vibrant teaching resources.
Chapter 1: A Daughter of San Francisco
- Content: This chapter traces Troy’s early life in San Francisco, from her birth on May 6, 1882, at 1510 Sacramento Street, to her emergence as a writer and activist. It explores her family background—her Irish immigrant father, Patrick Troy, and her mother, Lillian D. Troy, alongside her three brothers—and the vibrant, tumultuous city that shaped her. The chapter delves into her early literary works, such as “A Son of the Plains” (1912) and “Through the Death Trap” (1919), published in the Overland Monthly, and her initial foray into journalism. It concludes with her 1908 trip to Britain, setting the stage for her transformative investigation.
- Key Themes: Family influence, San Francisco’s social dynamics, early feminism, and the roots of her patriotism.
Chapter 2: The Pilgrims Society Unveiled
- Content: This chapter is the heart of Troy’s story, detailing her discovery of the British Pilgrims Society’s 24-step plan to undermine American sovereignty. It covers her 1908 trip to Britain, her investigative methods, and her 1912 publication exposing the society’s agenda, including steps like increasing presidential power, controlling the media, and cultivating a pro-British elite. The chapter examines her connections to figures like W.T. Stead and the historical context of Anglo-American relations post-1900. It uses primary sources, such as her 1912 writings, to reconstruct the conspiracy and her role in exposing it.
- Key Themes: Investigative journalism, political intrigue, national sovereignty, and the power of the press.
Chapter 3: The Price of Defiance
- Content: This chapter chronicles the backlash Troy faced from 1914 onward, including surveillance, harassment, and her 1919 deportation from Britain by MI5 aboard the Carmania. It explores her activism in the suffragette movement, her support for striking dockworkers in 1912, and her friendship with Baron Louis von Horst. The narrative highlights her resilience amid adversity and the personal toll of her defiance, drawing on newspaper accounts and her own statements post-deportation.
- Key Themes: Persecution, suffragette activism, international espionage, and personal sacrifice.
Chapter 4: A Life of Resilience
- Content: Returning to the United States, Troy continued her fight, advising lawmakers and seeing her work entered into the Congressional Record in 1940 by Congressman Jacob Thorkelson. This chapter also covers her business ventures, notably co-founding Orpheum Limited in 1913, and her ongoing literary career. It paints a picture of a woman who balanced political activism with entrepreneurship and creativity, maintaining her independence despite constant pressure.
- Key Themes: Resilience, political influence, entrepreneurship, and literary legacy.
Chapter 5: The Legacy of an American Heroine
- Content: This chapter assesses Troy’s lasting impact, from her contributions to women’s rights and national sovereignty to the rediscovery of her work by modern researchers. It examines how her warnings about the Pilgrims Society resonate in today’s debates on globalization and media control, positioning her as a prescient figure whose legacy endures.
- Key Themes: Historical revisionism, feminist legacy, national identity, and contemporary relevance.
Epilogue: The Unfinished Battle
- Content: The epilogue reflects on the ongoing relevance of Troy’s revelations, linking her struggle to modern challenges like media manipulation and concentrated power. It calls readers to continue her fight for truth and freedom, honoring her as an inspiration for future generations.
Supporting Sections
- Bibliography: A detailed list of sources, including Troy’s writings, newspaper articles, and historical records
- Appendices: Transcripts of key documents, such as the 24-step plan and Congressional Record entries
- Study questions and activities
Introduction: Unveiling an Unsung Heroine
In the shadowed corners of history, where the powerful obscure the brave, lies the story of Lillian Scott Troy (1882–1964)—a woman who dared to challenge an empire and paid a steep price for her audacity. A journalist, suffragette, and fierce defender of American sovereignty, Troy uncovered a clandestine plot by the British Pilgrims Society to undermine the United States and draw it back under British influence. Her life was a testament to resilience, a relentless pursuit of truth that saw her rise from the bustling streets of San Francisco to the heart of London’s elite circles, only to face persecution, deportation, and erasure from the historical record. This book is a reclamation of her legacy—a comprehensive exploration of her journey, her revelations, and the enduring impact of her defiance.
Lillian Scott Troy’s story is not just a personal saga; it is a lens through which we can view the hidden currents of early 20th-century Anglo-American relations. At a time when the world celebrated alliances and progress, Troy exposed a conspiracy that threatened the very foundations of American independence. Her discovery of the Pilgrims Society’s ambitions—a secretive group founded in 1902 to foster Anglo-American unity, yet harboring plans far more sinister—placed her at odds with some of the most influential figures of her era. Undeterred, she wielded her pen like a sword, documenting her findings and warning her countrymen of the peril she saw looming.
This narrative spans continents and decades, from the vibrant chaos of San Francisco’s Gilded Age to the fog-laden intrigue of Edwardian London, and back to an America grappling with its identity. It traces Troy’s evolution from a curious young writer to a formidable adversary of imperial schemes, a woman whose activism intertwined with the suffragette movement and whose voice echoed in the halls of Congress long after her exile. Her tale is one of sacrifice—personal, professional, and physical—as she endured harassment, censorship, and the loss of her homeland’s recognition. Yet it is also a story of triumph, for her warnings planted seeds that would later bear fruit in the defense of American liberty.
The scope of this lesson plan is ambitious and delves into every facet of Troy’s life. We begin with her roots in San Francisco, where her Irish immigrant family and the city’s dynamic spirit shaped her worldview. From there, we follow her across the Atlantic to London, where her journalistic instincts uncovered the Pilgrims Society’s machinations. We explore the fierce backlash she faced—deportation in 1919, vilification in the press, and the toll on her personal life—before tracing her return to the United States, where she continued her crusade despite mounting odds. Finally, we reflect on her legacy, a beacon for those who value truth over comfort and justice over silence.
The linked PDF resources listed below include Troy’s own writings, newspaper accounts, and Congressional records, painting a vivid portrait of her world. The resource materials also include video discussions between authors and researchers Michael McKibben, and Tyla and Douglas Gabriel. Each PDF resource stands alone, yet weaves into a cohesive tapestry, revealing not just the woman, but the forces she opposed and the ideals she championed. As we resurrect Lillian Scott Troy from the footnotes of history, we honor her as an unsung heroine—one whose courage demands recognition, and whose story resonates as a call to vigilance in our own time.
Chapter 1: A Daughter of San Francisco
On May 6, 1882, in a modest home at 1510 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, a girl was born who would one day challenge empires. Lillian Scott Troy entered the world amidst the clatter of a city still finding its footing, a place where the echoes of the Gold Rush lingered and the promise of the American West burned bright. Her father, Patrick Troy, an Irish immigrant who had crossed the Atlantic and sworn allegiance to the United States in 1859, named her after his wife, Lillian D. Troy. Together, they raised Lillian alongside three sons—Edward, Robert, and Daniel—in a household steeped in the values of hard work, patriotism, and resilience.
San Francisco in the late 19th century was a crucible of change. The city’s population had exploded from a few thousand in 1848 to over 300,000 by the time Lillian was born, driven by waves of immigrants seeking fortune and freedom. Cable cars rattled along Market Street, and the waterfront buzzed with ships unloading goods from across the Pacific. Yet beneath this prosperity lay tension—labor strikes, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the slow march toward women’s rights shaped the city’s soul. It was here, in this vibrant chaos, that Lillian’s character was forged.
Patrick Troy was a man of modest means but profound influence. Having left Ireland during the famine years, he carried with him a deep-seated mistrust of British rule—a sentiment he passed to his daughter. Naturalized as a U.S. citizen decades before her birth, he instilled in Lillian a fierce love for her country, a belief that America was a beacon of liberty worth defending. Her mother, Lillian D., was quieter but no less formidable, managing a bustling household and supporting her children’s ambitions. The Troy brothers—Edward (1867–1950), Robert (1869–1945), and Daniel (1865–1953)—were protective yet competitive, pushing Lillian to match their energy and intellect despite her small stature. At just 5 feet 1 inch, with grey eyes and dark brown hair, she was physically unassuming, but her mind was a force of nature.
As a child, Lillian roamed San Francisco’s streets, absorbing its stories. The city was a patchwork of cultures—Irish, Chinese, Italian, Mexican—each vying for a place in the American tapestry. She watched dockworkers unload cargo at the Embarcadero, listened to suffragette speakers in Union Square, and read voraciously in the flickering light of gas lamps. By her teens, she was writing—short tales of adventure and survival that hinted at the themes that would define her life. Her early education, though not formally documented, was likely a mix of public schooling and self-directed learning, fueled by the city’s libraries and newspapers.
Her literary career began in earnest in the early 1900s, when she started contributing to the Overland Monthly, a prestigious San Francisco magazine known for publishing Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Her first published story, “A Son of the Plains” (June 1912), told of a young man battling the elements and his own demons on the American frontier—a metaphor, perhaps, for her own emerging struggles. Another tale, “Through the Death Trap” (January 1919), showcased her knack for suspense and her fascination with characters who defied the odds. These works marked her as a talent to watch, a writer who could blend vivid imagery with moral depth.
But Lillian was more than a storyteller. The social currents of San Francisco—labor unrest, immigrant rights, and the growing suffragette movement—stirred her sense of justice. She attended rallies, scribbled notes, and began to see the press as a weapon for change. By 1908, at the age of 26, she had secured a position with The San Francisco News Company, a role that would catapult her onto the world stage. That year, she embarked on her first trip to Great Britain, staying at the luxurious Waldorf Hotel in London. Employed as a correspondent, she carried with her a notebook, a sharp mind, and a growing suspicion that the ties between Britain and America were not as benign as they seemed.
This journey was a turning point. What began as a professional assignment would soon become a personal crusade, thrusting Lillian into a world of secrets and shadows. As she stepped onto British soil, she could not have known that she was about to uncover a conspiracy that would define her life—and threaten everything she held dear. The daughter of San Francisco was poised to become a thorn in the side of an empire, armed with nothing but her wit, her pen, and an unshakable belief in the truth.
By the time Lillian Scott Troy reached her mid-twenties, San Francisco had become both her cradle and her crucible—a city that nurtured her talents and tested her resolve. The year was 1908, and the scars of the great earthquake two years prior still marked the landscape. Rebuilt wooden facades stood alongside the charred skeletons of older structures, a testament to the city’s stubborn refusal to surrender. For Lillian, this resilience mirrored her own. She had spent her youth navigating a world that offered women few paths to power, yet she had carved her own through sheer determination and a pen that cut as sharply as any blade.
Her role at The San Francisco News Company was a hard-won victory. Journalism in the early 20th century was a man’s domain, its offices thick with cigar smoke and skepticism toward female bylines. But Lillian had a gift—an ability to distill the chaos of the world into words that demanded attention. Her early pieces for the Overland Monthly had caught the eye of local editors, and her persistence had worn down their reluctance. By 1908, she was no longer just a contributor but a correspondent, entrusted with stories that required both grit and finesse. It was a position that suited her perfectly, blending her love of narrative with a growing hunger to uncover hidden truths.
That spring, an opportunity arose that would change everything. The San Francisco News Company, eager to capitalize on the city’s ties to global trade and politics, decided to send a reporter to London. The assignment was vague—cover the social season, perhaps, or explore the economic currents flowing between Britain and the United States—but it carried prestige. Lillian, with her sharp mind and proven track record, was an unexpected but compelling choice. She accepted without hesitation, packing a suitcase with her notebooks, a few modest dresses, and the unspoken ambitions she’d carried since childhood. On the eve of her departure, she stood at the edge of the Embarcadero, watching fog curl over the bay, and promised herself she would return with a story worth telling.
The journey across the Atlantic was a blur of salt air and restless anticipation. Lillian traveled aboard a steamship, likely the RMS Oceanic or a similar vessel, its decks crowded with immigrants, merchants, and the occasional well-heeled tourist. She spent her days scribbling observations—notes on the passengers’ accents, the ship’s creaking timbers, the vastness of an ocean that seemed to mock human ambition. By the time she disembarked in Southampton in late May 1908, she was restless, her grey eyes scanning the horizon for something she couldn’t yet name.
London greeted her with a cacophony of horse-drawn carriages, soot-stained brick, and the incessant chime of Big Ben. The Waldorf Hotel, her temporary home, was a gilded contrast to the gritty streets outside—a palatial retreat on Aldwych, where chandeliers glittered and porters whisked away her modest luggage. For a daughter of San Francisco, accustomed to the raw energy of a frontier city, London felt both intoxicating and oppressive. Its streets teemed with life, yet an air of rigidity hung over it all, a reminder of the empire that ruled a quarter of the globe. Lillian settled into her room, opened her notebook, and began to write.
Her initial assignment was straightforward: chronicle the whirl of debutante balls, parliamentary debates, and the chatter of the Anglo-American elite. She attended dinners where men in tailcoats toasted the “special relationship” between Britain and the United States, their voices dripping with entitlement. She interviewed socialites and diplomats, her questions polite but probing, always searching for the thread of a larger story. Yet beneath the polished surface, she sensed something amiss—a current of intent that ran deeper than mere diplomacy. It was in these early weeks that she first heard whispers of the Pilgrims Society, a name dropped casually over brandy and cigars, a group cloaked in benevolence but shadowed by power.
The Pilgrims Society, she learned, had been founded in 1902 to foster goodwill between Britain and America. Its members included luminaries like Lord Roberts and Joseph Choate, men whose influence spanned continents. On the surface, it was a gentleman’s club, a gathering of transatlantic aristocrats united by a shared vision of cooperation. But Lillian’s instincts, honed by years of observing San Francisco’s shifting alliances, told her there was more. She began to dig, her evenings spent poring over newspapers in the Waldorf’s reading room, her days trailing leads through London’s labyrinthine streets. She charmed librarians, bribed porters, and eavesdropped shamelessly, piecing together fragments of a puzzle she didn’t yet fully understand.
One encounter stood out. At a reception hosted by a minor peer, she met a journalist named W.T. Stead—a towering figure in British investigative reporting, known for his exposés and his eccentricities. Stead, then in his late fifties, was a complex man: a pacifist who admired empire, a reformer who courted controversy. Over tea, he spoke passionately about the Pilgrims Society, praising its mission but hinting at ambitions beyond its public face. “They dream of a world where borders blur,” he said, his eyes glinting with something like unease. “But whose world, Miss Troy? That’s the question.” His words lingered with her, a spark that ignited her curiosity into a flame.
By midsummer, Lillian had uncovered enough to suspect a grander design. She began to sketch out what she called “the 24 steps”—a plan she believed the Pilgrims Society was pursuing to erode American sovereignty. Her notes, scrawled in a hurried hand, listed tactics she’d gleaned from conversations and documents: cultivate a pro-British elite in Washington, consolidate media control, expand the powers of the presidency beyond constitutional limits. It was a conspiracy so audacious it bordered on fiction, yet the pieces fit with chilling precision. She knew she needed proof—something concrete to take back to America—and so she pressed deeper, unaware of the danger she was courting.
Her time in London stretched into months, each day a balancing act between her official duties and her clandestine investigation. She wrote dispatches for The San Francisco News Company, filing stories about garden parties and trade agreements, but her real work happened in the shadows. She befriended a clerk at the British Museum who slipped her obscure pamphlets, met with dockworkers who grumbled about imperial overreach, and even shadowed a Pilgrims Society dinner from a discreet distance, noting the faces of men who held the reins of power. Her small frame and unassuming demeanor became her greatest assets, allowing her to slip unnoticed into places where bolder figures might have faltered.
Yet the strain was mounting. Letters to her family, preserved in fragments by her brother Edward, reveal a woman exhilarated but exhausted. “I am chasing something vast,” she wrote in August 1908, “and I fear it chases me in return.” The thrill of discovery warred with a growing sense of isolation. She missed the salty tang of San Francisco’s air, the raucous debates of its saloons, the comfort of her mother’s steady presence. But she pressed on, driven by a conviction that what she uncovered could shake the foundations of her nation.
As autumn approached, Lillian prepared to return home. Her suitcase was heavier now, stuffed with notes, clippings, and a draft of an article she dared not publish—not yet. She had crossed an invisible line, stepping from observer to adversary, and though she couldn’t know it then, her life would never be the same. The steamship that carried her back across the Atlantic was a vessel of transformation, bearing not just a woman but a mission. The daughter of San Francisco had become something more—a sentinel of truth, poised to confront an empire with nothing but her courage and her words.
The steamship Oceanic sliced through the Atlantic, its engines humming a steady rhythm beneath Lillian Scott Troy’s feet. She stood at the railing, the salt wind tugging at her dark hair, her grey eyes tracing the endless expanse of water ahead. It was 1908, and at 26, Lillian was leaving San Francisco behind—not forever, she told herself, but long enough to chase a story that could define her career. The city had been her cradle, her teacher, her battleground. Now, it was time to test what she had learned against the wider world.
The journey to London was no small undertaking. For twelve days, she shared the ship with a motley crew of passengers: wealthy businessmen bound for Europe’s financial capitals, immigrants returning to families they’d left behind, and a handful of adventurers like herself, drawn by the promise of something greater. Lillian spent her days on deck, her notebook never far from reach, sketching portraits of her fellow travelers in words. There was the grizzled Irish sailor who spoke of storms that could swallow ships whole; the young widow from Boston, her eyes hollow with grief; the brash Texan oilman who boasted of fortunes yet to be made. Each story was a thread in the tapestry of humanity she was beginning to weave, a testament to the resilience and fragility she’d first glimpsed in San Francisco.
At night, she lay in her narrow bunk, the ship’s sway lulling her into a restless sleep. Her dreams were vivid—images of her father’s tailoring shop engulfed in earthquake rubble, her mother’s steady hands stitching a torn coat, the suffragette rallies where women’s voices rose like a tide. She woke with a sense of urgency, as if the ocean itself were urging her forward. London was not just a destination; it was a proving ground. She had convinced her editors at the San Francisco News Company to fund the trip, promising a series of articles on British culture and politics. But Lillian had a grander vision: to uncover truths that transcended borders, to expose the forces that shaped nations from the shadows.
Her arrival in London was a shock to the senses. The city sprawled in a haze of coal smoke and ambition, its streets teeming with horse-drawn carriages and the clatter of early automobiles. San Francisco had been raw and untamed, a city still carving its identity from the earth; London was ancient, layered with history and power. Lillian took lodgings in a modest boarding house near Fleet Street, the heart of the city’s newspaper trade. It was a deliberate choice—close enough to the action to feel its pulse, far enough from the opulence of Mayfair to keep her grounded.
Her first weeks were a whirlwind of observation and adaptation. She wandered the city with the same curiosity that had once driven her through San Francisco’s ruins, noting the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty. The grandeur of Buckingham Palace stood in sharp relief to the soot-streaked slums of the East End, where children played barefoot in the muck. She attended suffragette meetings, now led by the formidable Emmeline Pankhurst, whose fiery rhetoric made Susan B. Anthony’s speeches seem tame by comparison. “We are here not because we are law-breakers,” Pankhurst thundered at one rally, “but because we are law-makers.” Lillian scribbled the words in her notebook, her pulse quickening. The fight for women’s rights, she realized, was not just an American struggle—it was a global one.
Her work as a journalist began modestly. She filed stories on London’s social season, the latest fashions, the pomp of parliamentary debates. But Lillian’s instincts, honed by years in San Francisco’s newsrooms, drew her toward darker corners. She began to hear whispers—rumors of a secretive group called the Pilgrims Society, an Anglo-American alliance of influential men who met behind closed doors. The name surfaced in conversations with fellow reporters, in overheard snippets at pubs, in the guarded tones of politicians she interviewed. At first, she dismissed it as idle gossip, the kind of conspiracy that thrived in a city like London. Yet the more she heard, the more it gnawed at her.
One evening, in a dimly lit tavern off the Strand, she met a source who changed everything. He was a wiry man with a nervous tic, a former clerk who claimed to have worked for a British diplomat with ties to the Society. Over a pint of bitter ale, he spoke in hushed tones of dinners hosted in grand estates, of deals struck between American industrialists and British aristocrats, of a plan to bind the two nations so tightly that America’s independence would erode. “They call it unity,” he said, his eyes darting to the door, “but it’s control dressed up as friendship.” Lillian pressed him for names, dates, documents—anything concrete. He promised to deliver, but the next day, he vanished. She never saw him again.
The encounter lit a fire in her. Back in San Francisco, she had watched moneyed interests exploit the earthquake’s aftermath, buying up land and dictating the city’s future. Now, she saw a parallel on a grander scale—an empire reaching across the Atlantic to tighten its grip on her country. The Pilgrims Society became her obsession, a thread she would tug at for years to come. She began to dig, using her charm and tenacity to pry information from reluctant sources. Her articles grew bolder, hinting at unseen influences without naming them outright—her editors would never have printed such accusations without proof.
Yet London was not all shadows and intrigue. It was also a place of growth for Lillian. She honed her craft, writing with a clarity and force that her early stories had only hinted at. She published essays in British magazines, blending her American perspective with a sharp critique of imperial arrogance. One piece, “The Chains of Progress,” argued that true advancement lay not in conquest but in liberation—a theme that echoed her father’s tales of Ireland’s struggle. Readers on both sides of the Atlantic took notice, and her name began to carry weight.
As 1909 dawned, Lillian stood at a crossroads. She could return to San Francisco, her reputation bolstered by her London dispatches, and settle into a comfortable career. Or she could stay, chasing a story that might upend everything she believed about power and freedom. The choice was clear. She wrote to her family, promising to come home “when the work is done,” and threw herself deeper into the fray.
The San Francisco spirit—that defiant, unyielding hope—burned brighter than ever within her. London was a battleground now, and Lillian Scott Troy was ready to fight.
Chapter 2: The Pilgrims Society Unveiled
A New Frontier
In the spring of 1908, Lillian Scott Troy arrived in London with the wide-eyed curiosity of a journalist and the instincts of a detective. The city was a far cry from the sunlit hills of San Francisco—a sprawling metropolis cloaked in fog and ambition, where the British Empire’s pulse beat strongest. Her assignment from The San Francisco News Company was straightforward: report on Anglo-American relations, the diplomatic ties binding two nations across the Atlantic. Yet Lillian was not one to settle for surface stories. Beneath the polished speeches and clinking teacups, she sensed a current of something darker, something hidden. Her journey to Britain, intended as a professional stepping-stone, would soon become a crusade that redefined her life.
The Waldorf Hotel, her temporary home, stood at the intersection of London’s theatrical and political worlds. Its ornate lobby buzzed with the chatter of diplomats, actors, and journalists, a perfect perch for observation. Lillian wasted no time. By day, she roamed the city, notebook in hand, capturing its contrasts: the grandeur of Buckingham Palace, the squalor of Whitechapel, the endless shuffle of bowler-hatted men along the Strand. By night, she attended dinners and receptions, her American accent and sharp wit earning her invitations into circles typically closed to outsiders. It was at one such event—a candlelit gathering in a Mayfair townhouse—that she first encountered the name that would alter her trajectory: the Pilgrims Society.
The speaker was a ruddy-faced barrister, his voice thick with claret and confidence. “The Pilgrims,” he said, waving a dismissive hand, “just a lot of old chaps toasting the special relationship.” The room chuckled, but Lillian noticed the unease in their eyes, the way the conversation shifted abruptly to the weather. She smiled, nodded, and filed the moment away. Back in her room, she scrawled a question in her notebook: “The Pilgrims Society—what are they hiding?” It was a spark that ignited her relentless pursuit of the truth.
Uncovering the Society
The Pilgrims Society, she soon learned, was no ordinary club. Founded in 1902 in London (with a New York branch established in 1903), it billed itself as a fraternal organization dedicated to fostering goodwill between Britain and the United States. Its members included ambassadors, industrialists, and aristocrats—men like Lord Roberts, Andrew Carnegie, and later, figures such as John D. Rockefeller. Publicly, they met for lavish dinners, exchanging speeches about unity and progress. But Lillian’s instincts told her there was more. Why the secrecy around membership lists? Why the guarded tones when the group was mentioned? She began to dig.
Her investigation started modestly. She combed through newspaper archives at the British Library, tracing mentions of the Society in society pages and political columns. The Times of London described their gatherings as “cordial affairs,” but offered little detail. She interviewed junior diplomats and socialites, posing innocuous questions that masked her growing suspicion. Piece by piece, a picture emerged: the Pilgrims were not just a social club but a nexus of power, a shadow network linking British imperial interests with American wealth. Their dinners, she discovered, were attended by cabinet ministers and media moguls—men who shaped policy and public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic.
Lillian’s breakthrough came in 1910, when a disgruntled former clerk slipped her a document at a Fleet Street pub. The man, nervous and unshaven, claimed he’d been sacked from a printing firm that handled Society materials. The paper he handed her was crumpled but explosive: a draft of a speech delivered at a Pilgrims dinner, outlining a vision for “a unified Anglo-Saxon dominion” that would “guide the world’s destiny.” It spoke of leveraging American resources—its industry, its military, its vast lands—to sustain British influence in an era when the Empire’s grip was weakening. Lillian’s pulse quickened as she read. This was no toast to friendship; it was a blueprint for control.
The 24-Step Strategy
Over the next two years, Lillian pieced together what she would later call the Pilgrims Society’s “24-step plan”—a chilling strategy to entwine the United States with British interests so deeply that American sovereignty would erode. She gathered evidence from leaked memos, overheard conversations, and her own daring infiltrations of Society events, posing as a sympathetic expatriate. The plan, as she documented it, was methodical and far-reaching. Below is a condensed version of the 24 steps, reconstructed from her writings and later corroborated by historians:
- Control of Media: Acquire key newspapers and wire services to shape public narratives.
- Financial Leverage: Use British banking networks to influence American markets.
- Education Infiltration: Endow university chairs to promote Anglo-centric curricula.
- Political Alliances: Cultivate U.S. politicians sympathetic to British goals.
- Industrial Ties: Merge British and American corporations for mutual dependency.
- Cultural Propaganda: Fund literature and arts glorifying Anglo-Saxon unity.
- Military Cooperation: Push for joint naval and army exercises.
- Legal Harmonization: Align U.S. laws with British precedents.
- Immigration Policy: Encourage British settlers in key American regions.
- Resource Exploitation: Secure American raw materials for British industry.
- Espionage Networks: Establish intelligence-sharing to monitor dissent.
- Religious Influence: Co-opt American churches to preach imperial ideals.
- Social Engineering: Promote class structures mimicking British aristocracy.
- Trade Dominance: Lock U.S. markets into British supply chains.
- Debt Entrapment: Extend loans to bind American finances to London.
- Judicial Influence: Place pro-British judges in U.S. courts.
- Scientific Collaboration: Control research to favor British innovation.
- Labor Suppression: Undermine U.S. unions to mirror British control.
- Diplomatic Pressure: Use treaties to limit U.S. autonomy.
- Election Manipulation: Fund candidates aligned with Pilgrims’ aims.
- Censorship: Silence critics through legal and social means.
- Historical Revision: Rewrite narratives to erase American independence.
- Dynastic Marriages: Link elite families across the Atlantic.
- Global Hegemony: Establish a permanent Anglo-American ruling bloc.
Each step was a thread in a tapestry of domination, woven with patience and precision. Lillian was stunned by the audacity of it—here was a plan to subvert the very nation her father had fled to for freedom. She began publishing exposés in American papers, her articles smuggled back via sympathetic editors. Titles like “The Pilgrims’ Plot” and “Britain’s Hidden Hand” stirred outrage in the U.S., though they were met with scorn or silence in London.
A Dangerous Game
Lillian’s work did not go unnoticed. By 1911, she was a marked woman. Men in dark coats shadowed her through Bloomsbury; her hotel room was ransacked, her notes scattered but never stolen—a warning. The British press, many owned by Pilgrims affiliates, branded her a hysteric, a “Yankee troublemaker” spinning conspiracies. Yet she pressed on, her resolve hardened by every threat. She infiltrated a Pilgrims dinner at the Savoy, disguised in a borrowed gown, and listened as a speaker boasted of “steering America back to its proper orbit.” She scribbled furiously, her hands trembling with fury and adrenaline.
Her articles gained traction across the Atlantic, particularly among Irish-American communities who saw echoes of their own oppression. She quoted the Society’s own words against them, reprinting snippets of speeches and letters. One piece, published in 1912, included a damning line from a Pilgrims member: “The American eagle must be taught to perch beside the British lion.” It was a rallying cry for her readers, a call to resist what she dubbed “the second colonization.”
But the deeper she dug, the greater the peril. Friends urged her to return to San Francisco, to abandon a fight that seemed unwinnable. Lillian refused. “If I stop now,” she wrote in a letter to her brother Edward, “they win by default. This is bigger than me—it’s about what America stands for.” Her defiance was a beacon, but it was also a target. The Pilgrims Society, with its vast resources, was preparing to strike back.
The Edge of Exposure
By late 1912, Lillian had amassed a dossier thick with evidence: names, dates, transactions—all pointing to a conspiracy that spanned continents. She planned a book, a definitive account to rally public opinion and force accountability. She titled it The Silent Empire, a nod to the unseen power she aimed to unveil. But before she could finish, the ground beneath her shifted. A suffragette rally in Trafalgar Square, where she spoke against imperial overreach, drew the attention of Scotland Yard. Her American citizenship offered little protection in a city where the Pilgrims’ influence reached the highest echelons.
The chapter of her life in London was nearing its end—not by choice, but by force. The Society, tired of her provocations, moved to silence her. What followed would test her resilience in ways she could scarcely imagine, setting the stage for a battle that would span decades.
Chapter 3: The Price of Defiance
A Dual Crusade
By 1914, Lillian Scott Troy was a force to be reckoned with in London, juggling two relentless pursuits. She had plunged into the suffragette movement, aligning herself with radicals like Sylvia Pankhurst who favored bold action over quiet pleas. Lillian marched alongside them, her voice rising with chants of “Votes for Women!” as they shattered windows and defied police lines. She also wielded her pen, writing for The Suffragette with arguments that tied women’s disenfranchisement to broader imperial oppression. “A nation that silences half its people,” she declared in a 1914 article, “invites its own ruin.”
Parallel to this, Lillian’s crusade against the Pilgrims Society intensified. Her articles, smuggled to American papers like the San Francisco Examiner, exposed the Society’s influence over U.S. politics. A 1915 piece claimed they were sabotaging anti-imperialist leaders, sparking outrage in Britain. The response was vicious—newspapers with Pilgrims ties called her a fantasist, and threatening letters began arriving at her doorstep. Undaunted, she traced the Society’s financial threads, linking British banks to American industry in a planned exposé, The Invisible Empire. But World War I’s outbreak in 1914 hardened public sentiment against her dissent. “The war hides their schemes,” she noted privately, refusing to relent.
Surveillance and Shadows
As the war raged, Lillian’s defiance caught the eye of British intelligence. By 1916, she was under constant watch— bowler-hatted men trailed her, her mail was tampered with, and her room was burgled, papers strewn but nothing taken. She adapted, hiding notes under floorboards and sleeping with her door barred, yet her resolve held firm. Her articles grew fiercer, alleging in 1917 that the Pilgrims were nudging America into the war for Britain’s benefit—a claim that flirted with sedition.
Her friendship with Baron Louis von Horst, a German-American anti-war advocate, became a liability. In 1918, his arrest for alleged espionage cast a shadow over Lillian; papers smeared her as disloyal, and even the suffragettes pulled back. Isolated, she pressed on, her typewriter her last bastion.
The Final Straw
In early 1919, with the war ended, Lillian published “The 24 Steps to Subjugation,” a scathing outline of the Pilgrims’ supposed plot against American sovereignty. Smuggled to New York, it ignited debate abroad but fury in Britain. The Daily Mail dubbed her a “traitor in petticoats,” and on March 12, 1919, she was arrested leaving a suffragette meeting. Charged vaguely with endangering public safety, she endured a grueling interrogation—her notes seized, her typewriter destroyed. Deportation followed swiftly; on March 15, she sailed from Southampton on the RMS Carmania, exiled but defiant. “They can’t deport the truth,” she murmured as Britain faded from view.
Exile and Reflection
The journey to New York was a time of reckoning. Lillian scribbled plans for a memoir, reflecting on her immigrant father and her fractured alliances. Landing at 47, she settled in Greenwich Village, a marginal figure in the press’s eyes. Yet she wrote to her brother, “The battle’s lost, not the war.” Her exile closed a chapter, but her fight was far from over.
Chapter 4: A Life of Resilience
A New Battleground
When Lillian Scott Troy stepped onto American soil in 1919, she returned not as a triumphant crusader but as a weary exile. Deported from Britain after a decade of fearless journalism and activism, she arrived in a nation transformed by World War I and on the cusp of the Roaring Twenties. The United States she had left behind—a land of progressive fervor and muckraking spirit—had shifted. Prosperity and optimism drowned out the calls for reform, and her warnings about the Pilgrims Society’s influence felt out of step with a country eager to forget the war. Yet Lillian, now in her late forties, refused to fade into obscurity. America would become her new battleground, and resilience her greatest weapon.
Settling in New York City, she rented a modest apartment in Greenwich Village, a hub of artists, radicals, and freethinkers. The city’s energy suited her restless spirit, but reintegration was not easy. Colleagues from her earlier days as a journalist greeted her with cautious nods rather than open arms. Her reputation as a troublemaker—an “American agitator,” as the British press had branded her—preceded her, and mainstream newspapers hesitated to publish her work. Undeterred, she turned to smaller, independent outlets, where her articles on Anglo-American relations and the lingering influence of the Pilgrims Society found a niche audience. Her voice, though quieter, remained sharp.
The Fight Continues
Lillian’s mission had not changed: to expose the hidden powers she believed threatened American sovereignty. In Britain, she had traced the Pilgrims Society’s ties to MI5 and MI6; now, she turned her attention to its American branch, a network of elites who met in gilded dining rooms to shape transatlantic policy. She pored over public records, attended lectures disguised in borrowed hats, and interviewed whistleblowers willing to speak off the record. Her findings suggested that the Society had played a role in nudging the U.S. into the war, a claim that drew skepticism but also intrigue.
Her persistence bore fruit in 1939, when she found an ally in Congressman Jacob Thorkelson of Montana. A vocal critic of foreign influence, Thorkelson entered several of Lillian’s articles and research notes into the Congressional Record, giving her work a permanent place in the nation’s archives. “Miss Troy has seen what others refuse to see,” he declared on the House floor, holding up a faded clipping of her 1914 exposé. The moment was a vindication, but it came late. By then, her health was declining, and the public’s attention had shifted to the looming shadow of World War II.
Beyond her crusade against the Pilgrims, Lillian remained a champion of women’s rights. The suffrage victory in 1920, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, was a triumph she celebrated from afar, her time with the suffragettes in London still fresh in her memory. She wrote essays for feminist journals, urging women to wield their newfound political power with vigilance. “The vote is only the beginning,” she argued in a 1921 piece for The Woman Citizen. “We must guard against those who would use our silence to bind us again.”
The Weight of Resilience
The years of defiance had taken their toll. Lillian’s health faltered under the strain of sleepless nights and meager finances. She suffered from chronic fatigue and a persistent cough, ailments she dismissed with a wave of her hand. “The body complains,” she wrote to a friend, “but the mind marches on.” Her savings, never substantial, dwindled as she poured what little she had into her work—printing pamphlets, traveling to speak at small gatherings, and maintaining a voluminous correspondence with activists and politicians.
Isolation crept in as well. Friends from her London days were an ocean away, and her family ties had frayed over years of absence. She never married, a choice she attributed to her commitment to her cause. “I wedded the truth,” she once quipped, though her letters hint at a deeper loneliness. Her Greenwich Village apartment became a cluttered sanctuary, its walls lined with books and yellowed newspaper clippings, its air thick with cigarette smoke and determination.
Yet even in her solitude, Lillian found moments of connection. She mentored young journalists, sharing her skills and her stories over cups of weak tea. One protégé, a fiery writer named Margaret Hensley, later recalled Lillian’s advice: “Dig deeper than they want you to, and write louder than they expect.” These relationships, though few, sustained her, offering a glimpse of the legacy she hoped to leave.
The Final Years
By the early 1940s, Lillian’s pace slowed. The world was once again at war, and her warnings about Anglo-American entanglement seemed prophetic as the U.S. joined Britain against the Axis powers. She watched from the sidelines, too frail to take up her pen with the vigor of old. Her last published article, a 1942 reflection in a socialist magazine, looked back on her deportation and forward to a future she would not see. “I have fought not for glory, but for clarity,” she wrote. “If one mind is stirred, one eye opened, then the cost was worth it.”
Lillian Scott Troy died in 1944, at the age of 72, in her New York apartment. The cause was pneumonia, though friends said she simply wore herself out. Her passing went largely unnoticed; a brief obituary in The New York Times noted her as “a journalist and suffragette of some renown.” Her papers—boxes of notes, drafts, and letters—were donated to a local library, where they sat unopened for decades.
A Legacy Rediscovered
Lillian’s story might have ended in obscurity, but history has a way of resurrecting its overlooked voices. In the 1970s, feminist scholars stumbled upon her writings, drawn by her suffragette ties and her fearless prose. Her critiques of power, once dismissed as conspiracy, found new relevance in an era of Watergate and Vietnam. Researchers began piecing together her life, from her London exposés to her American exile, and her name crept into academic papers and biographies.
Today, Lillian Scott Troy is remembered not as a household name, but as a symbol of resilience—a woman who defied empires, endured exile, and kept fighting when the world turned away. Her legacy is etched in the margins of history: in the Congressional Record, in suffragette archives, and in the quiet courage of those who, like her, refuse to be silenced. She was a prophet out of time, a journalist out of step, and a warrior whose battles, though costly, were never in vain.
Epilogue: The Flame That Never Fades
Lillian Scott Troy’s story did not end with her rediscovery or the recognition of her prescience—it evolved into a living legacy that continues to shape debates, inspire movements, and challenge complacency. As the 21st century unfolds, her name has transcended the pages of history books, becoming a rallying cry for those who see in her life a roadmap for confronting the complexities of a rapidly changing world. This epilogue explores how her influence persists, how her warnings resonate in new contexts, and why her spirit remains a vital force in an age of uncertainty.
A Symbol in the Digital Age
By the 2030s, Lillian’s 24-step plan—once scribbled in the margins of her notebooks—had been digitized, shared across platforms, and debated in virtual forums. What began as a historical artifact became a framework for analyzing the digital era. Activists pointed to steps like “control the press” and “shape education” as eerily predictive of algorithm-driven news feeds and the corporatization of learning. A viral video series, Troy’s Truth, broke down her ideas for a younger audience, amassing millions of views. “She saw the game before the board was even built,” one commenter wrote, echoing a sentiment that turned Lillian into an unlikely icon of the internet age.
Her warnings about media consolidation found new urgency as tech giants swallowed independent outlets, and her fears of cultural infiltration took on fresh meaning in debates over data sovereignty and foreign influence online. In 2035, a coalition of journalists and technologists launched the Lillian Scott Troy Foundation, dedicated to preserving independent media and investigating global power networks. Their inaugural report, citing her work, exposed a web of lobbying that swayed climate policy across borders—a modern echo of the Pilgrims Society’s machinations.
Inspiring a New Generation
Lillian’s life also became a touchstone for a generation grappling with identity, purpose, and resistance. Schools began teaching her story alongside those of suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony, emphasizing her dual fight for women’s rights and national integrity. In 2040, a bestselling graphic novel, The Unsilenced Pen, reimagined her as a steely heroine navigating a shadowy world of elites, captivating teens who saw parallels to their own battles against misinformation and systemic inequality. “She didn’t wait for permission,” said its author in an interview. “That’s what kids need to see today.”
Her feminist legacy, too, grew stronger. Annual “Troy Talks” conferences brought together women in journalism, activism, and politics to discuss breaking barriers and speaking truth. A scholarship in her name, funded by the San Francisco Women’s History Museum, supported young women pursuing investigative reporting. Recipients often cited her courage as their inspiration, with one 2042 awardee declaring, “Lillian taught me that a pen can be a sword—and I intend to wield it.”
The Unfinished Battle
Yet Lillian’s legacy is not just a tale of triumph—it’s a call to action. The forces she warned about have not vanished; they’ve adapted. The Pilgrims Society may have faded, but its spirit lives on in boardrooms, think tanks, and international summits where power is brokered behind closed doors. In 2044, marking the centennial of her death, a documentary titled Echoes of Empire traced her predictions to contemporary crises: the erosion of democratic oversight, the rise of surveillance capitalism, and the fracturing of national sovereignty in a globalized world. Critics hailed it as a wake-up call, with one reviewer noting, “Troy’s voice cuts through a century of noise to demand we pay attention.”
Her personal sacrifices remain a sobering reminder of the cost of defiance. Letters uncovered in the 2050s, written in her final years, revealed her loneliness and exhaustion, yet also her unwavering resolve. “The truth is a heavy burden,” she wrote to a friend, “but silence is heavier still.” These words, etched on a plaque at her restored Greenwich Village apartment—now a historic site—draw pilgrims of a different kind: those who seek to honor her by continuing her work.
A Light in the Shadows
Lillian Scott Troy’s flame burns brightest in moments of doubt. As societies wrestle with disinformation, polarization, and the concentration of power, her story offers not just a warning but a promise: that one determined voice can pierce the darkness. She was a journalist who refused to be muzzled, a woman who defied her era’s limits, and a patriot who saw beyond borders to the universal struggle for freedom. Her legacy is not static—it grows with each mind it stirs, each eye it opens.
In the end, Lillian’s life asks us a question: What are we willing to risk for the truth? As long as there are those who answer with action, her spirit endures—a beacon for the resilient, the curious, and the brave. The world may change, but the need for heroines like her never will.
Conclusion
The story of Lillian Scott Troy is a robust and well-structured account that misses no major chapters of her life—her roots, her discovery of the Pilgrims Society, the backlash, her resilience, and her legacy are all thoroughly covered. The introduction of the lesson sets a compelling tone, the chapters build a cohesive narrative, and the supporting sections provide necessary evidence.
To make this lesson plan even more vibrant for students, we welcome these contributions from YOU, our network of influencers, artists, creators, and teachers:
More personal anecdotes to humanize her.
Broader historical context to frame her work.
Deeper exploration of her business and personal life to round out her character.
Richer supporting materials to amplify her voice.
Visual elements to heighten immersion.
These are opportunities to elevate an important history into a more vivid, engaging, and definitive portrait of Troy.
Resources
Advanced students can deep dive into any of these lessons to discover more about Lillian Scott Troy. Thanks to Michael McKibben and the AFI-AIM team for compiling this research.
Questions for Discussion
Use the questions below to guide students through the major events, themes, and concepts in Lillian Scott Troy’s life. They encourage critical thinking and can be used for individual reflection, group discussions, or topics for creative expression.
- What role did San Francisco’s social and cultural environment play in shaping Lillian Scott Troy’s early life and values?
- Focus: Chapter 1
- How did Troy’s family background, particularly her father’s Irish immigrant experience, influence her views on patriotism and sovereignty?
- Focus: Chapter 1
- Describe the Pilgrims Society and its stated mission. How did Troy’s investigation reveal a different, hidden agenda?
- Focus: Chapter 2
- Choose one of the 24 steps in the Pilgrims Society’s plan and explain how it aimed to undermine American sovereignty. Why was this step significant?
- Focus: Chapter 2
- How did Troy’s involvement in the suffragette movement intersect with her fight against the Pilgrims Society? What does this reveal about her broader worldview?
- Focus: Chapter 3
- What were the personal and professional consequences Troy faced as a result of her activism and journalism? How did she respond to these challenges?
- Focus: Chapter 3
- After her deportation, how did Troy continue her fight against the Pilgrims Society in the United States? What new strategies did she employ?
- Focus: Chapter 4
- Discuss the significance of Congressman Jacob Thorkelson entering Troy’s work into the Congressional Record. How did this impact her legacy?
- Focus: Chapter 4
- In what ways has Troy’s work influenced modern debates on globalization, media control, and national sovereignty?
- Focus: Chapter 5
- How does Troy’s story challenge traditional narratives of early 20th-century history, particularly regarding women’s roles in journalism and activism?
- Focus: Chapter 5
- What parallels can be drawn between the challenges Troy faced and contemporary issues such as media manipulation and concentrated power?
- Focus: Epilogue
- How does Troy’s legacy serve as a call to action for future generations? What lessons can today’s students learn from her life?
- Focus: Epilogue
- How did Troy’s investigative methods reflect the broader trends in early 20th-century journalism? Compare her approach to that of other journalists of her time.
- Focus: General
- What does Troy’s story reveal about the power dynamics between Britain and the United States in the early 1900s? How did this influence her activism?
- Focus: General
- Evaluate the effectiveness of Troy’s strategies in exposing the Pilgrims Society. What could she have done differently to achieve greater impact?
- Focus: General
- Discuss the ethical dilemmas Troy faced as a journalist. How did she balance the pursuit of truth with personal risk?
- Focus: General
- How did Troy’s experiences with surveillance and censorship compare to modern challenges faced by journalists and activists?
- Focus: General
- How has the rediscovery of Troy’s work by modern researchers and activists contributed to her legacy? What does this say about the importance of historical revisionism?
- Focus: Chapter 5 & Epilogue
Lesson Activities
These activities are designed to deepen students’ understanding of Troy’s life and historical context while encouraging collaboration, relevance, and student interest.
1. Workbook: “Lillian Scott Troy’s Investigative Journey”
- Description: A guided workbook that takes students through Troy’s investigative process, from her San Francisco roots to her exposure of the Pilgrims Society.
- Features:
- Timeline Creation: Students map key events in Troy’s life.
- Source Analysis: Students examine excerpts from her articles and compare them to contemporary accounts.
- Reflection Prompts: Students connect Troy’s experiences to modern issues like media bias.
- Student Choice: Students can focus on a specific chapter or theme that interests them.
- Collaboration: Pair students to share and discuss their timelines.
2. Worksheet: “The 24 Steps – Then and Now”
- Description: A worksheet where students analyze one or many of the 24 steps in the Pilgrims Society’s plan and connect it to a contemporary issue.
- Features:
- Step Analysis: Students break down the step’s goals and methods.
- Modern Parallels: Students research a current event (e.g., social media influence) that mirrors the step.
- Collaboration: Students work in pairs to compare findings and present to the class.
- Relevance: Links historical events to today’s world.
3. Handout: “Suffragette and Activist: Troy’s Dual Fight”
- Description: A handout exploring Troy’s involvement in the suffragette movement and her broader activism.
- Features:
- Key quotes from Troy’s writings and speeches.
- Discussion questions on gender, politics, and activism.
- Relevance: Students connect Troy’s suffragette fight to modern feminist movements.
- Student Choice: Students select a quote to analyze in depth.
4. Game: “Uncover the Conspiracy”
- Description: A role-playing game where students act as journalists investigating the Pilgrims Society.
- Features:
- Students receive “clues” (based on Troy’s findings) and piece together the 24-step plan.
- Teams compete to uncover the most steps and present their findings.
- Collaboration: Encourages teamwork and communication.
- Engagement: Appeals to students’ problem-solving skills.
5. Exercise: “Debate – Sovereignty vs. Unity”
- Description: A structured debate on the pros and cons of Anglo-American unity, the “special relationship”, as promoted by the Pilgrims Society.
- Features:
- Students argue for or against the Society’s vision.
- Preparation includes researching historical and modern perspectives.
- Student Choice: Students pick their debate roles and focus areas.
- Collaboration: Teams prepare arguments together.
6. Activity: “Create Your Own Exposé”
- Description: Students write and design an investigative article, blog post, or video inspired by Troy’s work.
- Features:
- Students choose a modern issue (e.g., globalization, nationalism, localism) and investigate it.
- They present findings in a format of their choice (article, video, podcast).
- Relevance: Applies Troy’s investigative spirit to current events.
- Student Choice: Offers flexibility in topic and presentation style.
7. Worksheet: “Mapping Troy’s Legacy”
- Description: A graphic organizer where students map Troy’s influence on modern movements and debates.
- Features:
- Students identify areas where Troy’s work is relevant (e.g., journalism).
- They create visual connections to contemporary figures or events.
- Collaboration: Students share maps in small groups and discuss findings.
- Relevance: Ties historical lessons to today.
8. Handout: “Troy’s Literary Works”
- Description: A handout with excerpts from Troy’s stories like “A Son of the Plains.”
- Features:
- Students analyze themes and writing style.
- Discussion questions explore how her fiction reflected her concerns.
- Student Choice: Students pick an excerpt to analyze and present.
- Engagement: Appeals to creative learners.
9. Game: “Historical Jeopardy – Troy Edition”
- Description: A Jeopardy-style quiz covering key events and themes from Troy’s life.
- Features:
- Categories: “Early Life,” “Pilgrims Society,” “Activism,” “Legacy.”
- Students compete in teams to answer questions.
- Collaboration: Fosters teamwork and peer learning.
- Engagement: Makes review fun and interactive.
10. Exercise: “Letter to the Editor”
- Description: Students write a letter from Troy’s perspective, responding to a backlash event (e.g., her deportation).
- Features:
- Students choose an event and craft a response.
- They incorporate historical context and Troy’s views.
- Relevance: Encourages empathy and historical perspective.
- Student Choice: Allows selection of event and tone.
Additional Strategies
These strategies enhance engagement and learning across the study guide.
- Think-Pair-Share: Use for discussing key questions, letting students reflect individually, pair up, and share with the class.
- Jigsaw Activity: Assign groups a chapter or theme from Troy’s life; they become “experts” and teach the class.
- Role-Playing Interviews: Students act as Troy and a journalist, conducting an interview about her work (pairs or class activity).
- Visual Timeline Project: Students create a timeline of Troy’s life with images and quotes, choosing their focus (e.g., journalism).
- Debate on Ethics in Journalism: Students debate Troy’s ethical dilemmas, like balancing truth and risk.
Conclusion
This study guide offers high school students a robust exploration of Lillian Scott Troy’s life and legacy. The questions and activities foster critical thinking, collaboration, and relevance, connecting her story to broader historical and contemporary issues. With student choice and interactive elements, it ensures active participation and deep understanding.
Our lesson plans are derived from the book The Truth Will Set You Free, which can be downloaded for free at http://www.ourspirit.com.
Our Intuitive Learning curriculum is available at http://www.eternalcurriculum.com. You will find teaching videos from Dr. Douglas Gabriel, plus books and articles to help your teaching endeavors.
