Alternative Antebellum Research Projects II
1. Life in America between 1850 and 1860
In 1850, there were no phones, planes, video games, televisions, or computers. Most people lived and died in the locale where they were born. Young children routinely went to work for 10-12 hours a day rather than to school, often times in horrific conditions without proper food, clothing, or health and safety considerations.
Construct a report for what America was like in 1850. Use a 4 square worksheet, multiple images, and word process your research into one historical page.
2. Stepping into a painting
In the Harry Potter books and films, paintings at the Hogwarts School literally come alive. Using their imaginations, students can do the same thing by taking a famous painting and using it as the basis for constructing a story that includes historical context based on the information contained in the image.
Visit the Web site of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. ( and select a painting with which to create an imaginative story or historical account. Use the information within the image to construct your historical context. Make your story historically accurate.
3. Journey Stories
The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service has created a set of
visually rich and highly informative posters. This poster set isentitled Journey Stories and covers centuries of American history including chapters such as Western expansion, Native American displacement, African American migration from the Deep South and important developments in Transportation technology.
Americans have moved west, traveled by boat, wagon, horse and on foot to journey to new homes and land. Trace the journey of a group of Americans that shaped our cultural and economic landscape. Possible topics for this activity are listed below.
Forced Relocation
Native Americans – Trail of Tears
Mexicans – Mexican American War
African Americans – legal importation of slaves from Africa
Westward Movement – Donner Party
Homestead Acts and railroad grants
Gold Rush into California
Bear Flag Revolt in California
Suffragettes (Women Activists)
Mormon western migration
Slave Revolts
NOTE: Omit pronouns and questions, use past verb tense and edit all writing carefully.
Due date: ______Name ______P____