you

Wednesday, February 23, 2000

Inquiry Question: "What information would you use to support Nevada statehood in the 1860s?"

Artifact Title: Henry G. Blasdel to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, February 17, 1865 (Telegram reporting ratification of 13th Amendment)

Artifact Description: This document is a telegraph message from Nevada's first governor Henry G. Blasdel to Abraham Lincoln announcing Nevada's passing of the 13th amendment.

Describe the Artifact:

To where was the message sent?
Where did the telegraph message originate?
When was it sent?
There are several cross outs, why?
What entity was responsible for transmitting this telegraph messages, private business or the federal government?

Thinking about the artifact: Why do you think this message was so short?

Using Your Imagination: Write a newspaper article from the perspective of a Nevada resident who just received this message.
______________________________________________________

Artifact Title: D. E. Edgar to Abraham Lincoln, Tuesday, February 03, 1863 (Conspiracy to form a separate republic in the West)

Artifact Description: [Describe in detail; Include historical context]

Describe the Artifact: [List questions readily answerable from the artifact]

Thinking about the Artifact: [Ask questions requiring inference related to the artifact]

Using Your Imagination: [Outline an activity that will engage the learner with the artifact content]
______________________________________________________

Inquiry Question: "What information would you use to support Nevada statehood in the 1860s?"

To where was the message sent?
Where did the telegraph message originate?
When was it sent?
There are several cross outs, why?
What entity was responsible for transmitting this telegraph messages, private business or the federal government?

Thinking about the artifact: Why do you think this message was so short?

Inquiry Question: "What role did the geographic theme of movement play in the relationship between Lincoln and Nevada?"

Artifact Title: Leland Stanford to Abraham Lincoln, Monday, September 29, 1862

Artifact Description: A letter from California Governor, Leland Stanford, to Abraham Lincoln in regards to location of the Transcontinental Railroad in the Sierra Nevadas from California into the Nevada Territory.

Describe the Artifact

To where was the message sent?
Where did the telegraph message originate
When was it sent?
Who was Leland Stanford?
What is the Transcontinental Railroad?
What is the tone of the letter to Lincoln from Stanford?

Thinking about the Artifact:

How important was it for Lincoln to have a Transcontinental Railroad built to the western coast during the Civil War?
Why would a positive relationship between Lincoln and Stanford during this time period be significant for Lincoln?
Describe the impact the building of the Transcontinental Railroad on the economy of the Nevada Territory.
What would have happen if the South had gained control of the Western states and territories. Would the outcome of the war have been different.

Using Your Imagination:

Bell Ringer: Students will use the letter as an introduction activity on the role of the Western Territories during the Civil War. Students will use the "thinking about" questions as a spring board into the importance of the Western states and territories remaining loyal to the union.
Annotated Map: Students will create a map of the Western half of the US during the Civil War. (Example: Battle of Glorietta) Students will add Civil War battles fought in the Western half of the US and include a brief description of Confederate and Union movements during the war.
Closure: Students will write a brief description predicting the outcome of the Civil War if the South had gained control of the Western States and Territories.

______________________________________________________

Artifact Title: Naval and Military Map of the US

Artifact Description: Map created for the US Military showing the Pony Express, roads and canals being built. Map focuses on the Western half of the country.

Describe the Artifact:

What territories still exists int his map?
What symbols do you see on this map?
What is the title of this map?
What is the Pony Express?
Why is this an important map for the Lincoln to have?

Thinking about the Artifact:

Why is communication important to the union in the Civil War?
What impact did the Pony Express have on the communication for Lincoln?
Compare the communication of Civil War to today.

Using Your Imagination:

Starter: Analyze the map.
Class Discussion: Compare the communication of the Civil War to communication methods used in the Persian Gulf War.
Written Response: Answer an exit question on the importance of communication during the Civil War.

______________________________________________________

Artifact Title: Nevada: Making of America

Artifact Description: This article was part of a monthly installment for Harper's new monthly magazine, Volume 31, Issue 183, August, 1865.

Describe the Artifact: Identify the various types of terrain that a person would see traveling through Nevada.

Thinking about the Artifact: Analyze the risks of traveling through this region of the country.

Using Your Imagination: Create a diary entry from the perspective of someone traveling through the region in 1865.
______________________________________________________

Artifact Title: Virginia City

Artifact Description: This is an 1861 illustration of Virginia City by Grafton T. Brown. There is a "bird's-eye" view of Virginia City and 30 views of local residences and commercial establishments.

Describe the Artifact:

Describe the physical geography of Virginia City.
What types of businesses are represented?
What building materials were used?

Thinking about the Artifact: What are the benefits and challenges of living in Virginia City?

Using Your Imagination: Create an advertisement to encourage new residents to settle in Virginia City.
______________________________________________________

Inquiry Question: "What role did the geographic theme of movement play in the relationship between Lincoln and Nevada?"

To where was the message sent?
Where did the telegraph message originate
When was it sent?
Who was Leland Stanford?
What is the Transcontinental Railroad?
What is the tone of the letter to Lincoln from Stanford?

Thinking about the Artifact:

How important was it for Lincoln to have a Transcontinental Railroad built to the western coast during the Civil War?
Why would a positive relationship between Lincoln and Stanford during this time period be significant for Lincoln?
Describe the impact the building of the Transcontinental Railroad on the economy of the Nevada Territory.
What would have happen if the South had gained control of the Western states and territories. Would the outcome of the war have been different.

Using Your Imagination:

Bell Ringer: Students will use the letter as an introduction activity on the role of the Western Territories during the Civil War. Students will use the "thinking about" questions as a spring board into the importance of the Western states and territories remaining loyal to the union.
Annotated Map: Students will create a map of the Western half of the US during the Civil War. (Example: Battle of Glorietta) Students will add Civil War battles fought in the Western half of the US and include a brief description of Confederate and Union movements during the war.
Closure: Students will write a brief description predicting the outcome of the Civil War if the South had gained control of the Western States and Territories.

What territories still exists int his map?
What symbols do you see on this map?
What is the title of this map?
What is the Pony Express?
Why is this an important map for the Lincoln to have?

Thinking about the Artifact:

Why is communication important to the union in the Civil War?
What impact did the Pony Express have on the communication for Lincoln?
Compare the communication of Civil War to today.

Using Your Imagination:

Starter: Analyze the map.
Class Discussion: Compare the communication of the Civil War to communication methods used in the Persian Gulf War.
Written Response: Answer an exit question on the importance of communication during the Civil War.

Describe the physical geography of Virginia City.
What types of businesses are represented?
What building materials were used?

Inquiry Question: "What would you recommend to Lincoln if he asked you to suggest ways to assist in growing Nevada's 1860's economy?"

Artifact Title: New Consolidated mill, Goldfield, Nev.

Artifact Description: View of the New Consolidated mill building, Goldfield, Nevada

Describe the Artifact:

According to this picture, is this a productive mine?
Where is Goldfield, Nevada in relation to Las Vegas, Nevada?

Thinking about the Artifact: Does the picture of this mine lead you to believe that President Lincoln would be interested in making Nevada a union state as soon as possible?

Using Your Imagination:

You are an independent, first time miner working alone. In your journal log your prospecting results in your first two weeks of mining. Be as detailed as possible.

______________________________________________________

Inquiry Question: "What would you recommend to Lincoln if he asked you to suggest ways to assist in growing Nevada's 1860's economy?"

Artifact Title: New Consolidated mill, Goldfield, Nev.

Artifact Description: View of the New Consolidated mill building, Goldfield, Nevada

Describe the Artifact:

According to this picture, is this a productive mine?
Where is Goldfield, Nevada in relation to Las Vegas, Nevada?

Thinking about the Artifact: Does the picture of this mine lead you to believe that President Lincoln would be interested in making Nevada a union state as soon as possible?

Using Your Imagination:

You are an independent, first time miner working alone. In your journal log your prospecting results in your first two weeks of mining. Be as detailed as possible.

______________________________________________________

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:

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

Thinking about the Artifact:

What were the details of the tax law passed on mining in 1864?
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.

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

______________________________________________________

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:

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

Thinking about the Artifact:

What other unions were created to help workers?
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.
______________________________________________________

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:

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

Thinking about the Artifact:

How many mines were used while Lincoln was president?
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.
______________________________________________________

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:

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

Thinking about the Artifact:

How does this compare to a modern day rail station?
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?
______________________________________________________