But New Haven history, that we can literally look up to (and even visit!), also fits into this period. Check out this local history of the Angel of Peace and Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument; dedicated in 1887, the story of this East Rock monument captures the American Identity of the period. And as an added bonus, this monument helps us to review significant dates and places of the four major American wars at this point in history in 1887: The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War.
As a AP Exam Review Project, you will work collaboratively to create a Visitors Guide to this monument for 9th graders at Metro.
A few points:
1) Students will work in groups of two or three to create Visitors Guides for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on East Rock. First, students will research individually; then we will form collaborative working groups based on interests and schedules.
2) I like the way Niorgie describes the project: "This visitor's guide should be neat and bright. We should add our own personal touch." Here are some possible topics to include in the Visitor's Guide:
- Native American Life Before Europe: A Natural History of East Rock. There is currently an exhibit at the New Haven Museum about the geologic history of East Rock.
- New Haven, Revolution and the War for Independence: There is an engaging Yale Lecture online about this topic.
- Connecticut, Resistance and the War of 1812: There is a recent research article about the Hartford Convention and Connecticut's "reluctant but bloody involvement" in the war.
- The Mexican American War: Slavery and Anti-Slavery
- The Guns of Whitney and The Civil War
- Industrialism in New Haven in 1880s
I'm still working on finding good links for a few more topics. I am open to suggestions. As you can see, I am trying to keep the research as local as possible. The monument makes specific references to battles that I'm sure hold local connections. Further research will yield interesting results. Share what you discover. This will be helpful to everyone involved.
As for Roggie's question: We will definitely go to East Rock the day of the field trip with the 9th graders, in late May. You will present your Visitor's Guides to small groups of frosh and then we will all have lunch up there. I also recommend that you take a trip up there on your own. Maybe we can get an AP trip up there after the 5/11 exam, but it's hard in May, so much going on! Let's keep our options open. And remember, this website has great detailed information: http://www.chs.org/finding_aides/ransom/074.htm
This project sounds cool! what monuments do we have to choose from? and are we choosing are own research groups?
ReplyDeleteI know that when I go to east rock and see the statue, it does look kind of dull. I can't wait to see it restored. But I also was thinking about the parking over there, in 1887 east rock had to look different. So how did people see it ? Did they watch it from where cross now is ? Or were they up on the hill watching from the other side?
ReplyDeleteThis project seems interesting. I never knew that that was what this monument was about. Are we going to be able to pick our groups? Also are we going to go to this monument as a class or are we going to have to go at our own time?
ReplyDeleteThis project sounds interesting. I realize I just walk or drive by these local monuments and not notice what we live near.
ReplyDeleteI was really taken back by the fact that this sturcture that I had seen so many times was actually connected to the time in histopry that we are studying currently, and that it was such a big deal at the time (there was a huge party with fireworks and celebration when it was unveiled.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, I always weanted to know what that monument was but never got the chance to research it. As for the project, I think it will be a fun and interesting experience.
ReplyDeleteThis project seems pretty cool. It made me think of all the other monuments in other places from other wars... I found one in Derby (I always sat on the cannons not really knowing what the monument was for lol!) Here's the link to the Derby one: http://www.chs.org/finding_aides/ransom/023.htm.
ReplyDeleteAlso I think I should find out more about the War of 1812 and the Mexican War because I don't know too much about them!
Amazing quotes on that monument. I really like how detailed that website gets with respect to names, dates, materials used, background stories. Thanks for posting.
DeleteERECTED
BY THE
PEOPLE OF DERBY AND HUNTINGTON
A.D. 1883
IN HONOR OF ALL WHO FOUGHT
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
"THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,
BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE,
SHOULD NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH"
"ON FAME'S ETERNAL CAMPING GROUND
THEIR SILENT TENTS ARE SPREAD,
AND GLORY GUARDS, WITH SACRED ROUND,
THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD"
IN
MEMORY OF THE
MEN OF DERBY AND HUNTINGTON
WHO FELL
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
IN THE
WAR OF THE REBELLION,
1861-1865
AS
DEFENDERS OF LIBERTY AND
NATIONALITY
This sounds like a fantastic project! I can't wait to begin research. So which time period, exactly, will we be targeting for our research? Gilded? Revolution? Or is it our decision?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Mahogany, I really like your ideas about thinking of the monuments and change over time. It's fun to think back in time to how they used/viewed the monuments that are common to us now, in the 21st century. I definitely will include this in my tour guide for the Freshmen!!! Thanks!
--Christine
I really like this project! It seems like a fun learning experience. Looking forward to it.
ReplyDelete~Jeremy N. H. Jamison
This project seems legit. This visitor’s guide should be neat and bright. We should add our own personal touch.
ReplyDelete