Inquiry Question: "How would you justify moving to Nevada during the time of Abraham Lincoln's presidency?"

Artifact Title:William E. Goodridge to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, January 11, 1864 (Mines in Nevada)

Artifact Description: A letter from William Goodridge to Abraham Lincoln requesting that he look at the tax proposal on mining.

Describe the Artifact:

1. Who is William E. Goodridge?
2. What role did William E. Goodridge play in passing a tax on mining? Why was this important to Nevadans?

Thinking about the Artifact:

1. What were the details of the tax law passed on mining in 1864?
2. How did the passing of this law impact the economy in Nevada and influence others to move to Nevada?

Using Your Imagination:
Pretend you and your family are looking to join the westward movement.

1. What do you need to do to plan for your journey?
   
2. Where is your final destination?
   
3. How will your family prepare for a new life in Nevada?
   
4. How will life be different for you and your family in Nevada verse your current location in the Midwest?

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Artifact Title: Miners' Union Hall, West side B Street, between Union & Sutton Streets, Virginia City, Storey County, NV

Artifact Description: The website has pictures of the Union Hall where the Miners Protective Association meet and where they agreed that if miners would go underground they would receive $4 a day. It talks about the union that they created and how it helped the workers who went into the mines.

Describe the Artifact:

1. When was the Miners Protective Association created?
2. How much did the minors receive before the union decided on $4.
   

Thinking about the Artifact:

1. What other unions were created to help workers?
2. How many people came to Nevada to work in the mines?
   

Using Your Imagination: The students will write about a day in the life of a miner. They will have to incorporate what the conditions were while mining and what the miners life was like.
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Artifact Title: Timothy G. Phelps to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, July 13, 1863 (New Almaden mine)

Artifact Description: This is a letter from Timothy G. Phelps to Abraham Lincoln discussing the New Almaden mine.

Describe the Artifact:

1. What is Timothy G. Phelps wanting to do with the mine?
2. Who wants to claim the mine?
   

Thinking about the Artifact:

1. How many mines were used while Lincoln was president?
2. How many mines were located in Nevada?
   

Using Your Imagination: Students will pretend that they are miners and mine for chocolate chips. The students will dig for the chocolate chips using toothpicks. They will talk about the difficulties of mining. They can add water and see what happens.
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Artifact Title: Overland to the Pacific: Shoshone beggars at the railway station, Carlin, Nevada (Hyde)

Artifact Description: This is a typical picture of a rail station in Nevada.

Describe the Artifact:

1. What is your first thought when you look at this picture?
   
2. How would you describe this picture in your own words?
   
3. Why was this an important picture to be put on a New York paper?

Thinking about the Artifact:

1. How does this compare to a modern day rail station?
   
2. When looking at this picture what does it show you regards to that era of that time? Notice the clothing and the gestures and the setting.

Using Your Imagination: Write down your thoughts of each of the people on the cover and describe what might be going on with in their minds? Does it look like anything you might see today?
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