Civil War Stereotypes

Teacher's Page

    Your local newspaper has been running stories about the stereotypes surrounding the time of the Civil War.  In these stories they have asked for help in supporting or dispelling these stereotypes.  They seem to be having trouble locating primary source documents to use as evidence one way or another.  Your principal read these articles and nominated your class to help find evidence to support or dispel these stereotypes.  After you have done your research, you are to write a letter to the editor revealing the products of your search. 

    You will be looking at different sections of the Valley of the Shadow site.  This site is full of primary source documents from before, during, and after the Civil War.  When doing your research, you will want to look mainly at the newspapers and census records (census records are located under the public documents category).  Under the newspaper category you can search by topic, which will probably be the most helpful way to search.   Remember that you only have a specific amount of time to complete your research, so be as efficient as possible! 

    One thing you need to think about during this project is the issue of bias.  How does bias play a role in what was reported and how it was reported?  How should you incorporate this into your analysis of the information you find in the articles?  How does this influence whether the information truly supports or dispels the stereotype?  Think of these things as you are reading the articles. 

Let's get started!!

Procedure:

• Have the teacher assign your group a stereotype.
• Fill out the terms sheet.  Each group member should fill in their own copy of this sheet.  Keep this sheet with you as a reference for terms used throughout the site.  
• Fill out chart 1.  This can be discussed as a group, but each person should fill out their own sheet with their own views.  The entire group does not need to agree.  This is a starting point from which you can do your research.  Keep in mind that your hypothesis might be proven incorrect as you do your research.  That's OKAY!  
• Once you have filled out your own hypothesis including the reasons why, you may begin researching your stereotype topic.  Click on the stereotype assigned to your group from the list below to get hints on how to research your particular topic.  

• All slaves wanted to be free.

• The South was only agricultural and the North was only industrial.

• Women were only involved in the home.

• Freed blacks in the North were treated better than slaves in the South.

• There were no abolitionists in the South.

• As you are researching your stereotype, fill out chart 2.  This is meant to be a type of journal for you to keep track of your findings.  It is essential for you to cite references for each piece of evidence that you find.  Click here to get help on how to cite your sources.  BE SURE YOU LOOK AT MULTIPLE ARTICLES/SOURCES BEFORE YOU GO ON TO THE NEXT STEP.  Don't make assumptions from the information you find in the first few articles/sources.  
• Once you have completed your research, fill out chart 3.  You will need to write a thesis statement based on the information that you found.  
• After you have filled out chart 3 you may begin writing your letter to the editor.  Read all instructions carefully.  Your letters will be turned in to your teacher as well as the charts you used.  The letters will be assessed according to a rubric designed for this specific project. 
• If at any point in your research or writing you have questions, ask your teacher.  

Resources

The following is a list of all of the resources used in designing this project.  

Title page graphics from Paul's page: http://myhome.shinbiro.com/~PMOADE/index.html