. . Traditional West African Fabric Quilting Pattern |
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. Road to California- Popular Pioneer Quilt Pattern . |
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher Notes | Author Notes | Bibliography |
In the years following the Gold Rush, California was viewed as a land of opportunity. Thousands joined the Westward Movement and journeyed to the "Golden State" in search of a better life. But not all who traveled the road to California came of their own accord. Although California entered the Union as a free state, its laws did not prohibit slave owners from bringing slaves into the state. Such was the case of Biddy Mason, who in 1853 walked to California behind her master's wagon train. Biddy Mason's journey to freedom is an inspiring chapter in American history. How could a women born into slavery, against all odds, become one of the wealthiest - and most generous - women of the Westward Movement?
This Webquest addresses the following Content Standards for California:
Historical And Social Sciences Analysis Skills - Kindergarten Through Grade Five
- Chronological and Spatial Thinking: 1, 3, 4
- Research, Evidence, and Point of View: 1, 2
- Historical Interpretation: 1, 3
United States History and Geography: Making a Nation - Grade Five
- 5.8.Students trace the colonization, immigration, and settlement patterns of the American people from 1789 to the mid-1800's with emphasis on the role of economic incentives, effects of the physical and political geography, and transportation systems. (5.8.1 and 5.8.4)
Reading - Grade Five
- 2.0 Reading Comprehension - Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. They describe and connect the essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. (2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4)
- 3.0 Literary Response and Analysis - Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature. They begin to find ways to clarify the ideas and make connections between literary works. (3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4)
Listening and Speaking - Grade Five
- 1.0 Students deliver focused, coherent presentations that convey ideas clearly and relate to the background and interests of the audience.
The Oakland Museum of California is currently putting together a new exhibit: Women of the Westward Movement. They have already gathered from their archives many artifacts that tell the Euroamerican perspective. The curators feel strongly that without a key story such as Biddy Mason's, the exhibit would not be representative of the diverse voices of California during the Westward Movement. They are seeking a team of history students to do the research. Congratulations! You're hired!
Working in a team of four to five, you will divide up the task of investigating the road to California from the perspective of a slave. You will each be assigned to a specific role and will become the expert in that field.
Roles:
- Cartographer: The museum curators would like your exhibit to include a map to trace Biddy Mason's journey west. The map should include a legend explaining major stops or obstacles in Biddy's route. You might want to add an illustrated and labeled border to show her modes of transportation and any artifacts associated with her journey. Your research should include a minimum of three sources. Use the Notes template to record your sources and information.
- In Print Resources:
- Check your textbook for maps showing Westward Movement routes.
- Open Hands, Open Hearts, The Story of Biddy Mason by Deidre Robinson includes key dates and places in Biddy's journey to California.
- Online Resources: The following sites will provide you with maps, trails, and primary source documents on Westward Movement:
- The Road to California - http://calcite.rocky.edu/octa/intro.htm
- Trail Maps - http://calcite.rocky.edu/octa/trailmap.htm
- US Territorial Maps - http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MAP/terr_hp.html Select Year 1850
- Chronologist: In addition to the map, the curators would also like an illustrated and labeled timeline to show key events in Biddy Mason's life. Your timeline should clearly depict how specific federal and state laws impacted Biddy's life. Your research should include a minimum of three sources. Use the Notes template to record your sources and information.
- In Print Resources:
- Check your textbook for background on the following laws: The Missouri Compromise, The Fugitive Slave Act, The Civil Practice Act of 1850, The Dredd Scott Decision, and The Emancipation Proclamation.
- Open Hands, Open Heart, The Story of Biddy Mason by Deidre Robsinon explains how our nation's earlier discriminatory laws affected African Americans such as Biddy Mason.
- Online Resources:
- Africans in America - The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html
- Africans in America - The Dread Scott Decision - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2932.html
- Bridget "Biddy" Mason - http://www.netsrq.com/~dbois/mason-b.html
- Black History Timeline - http://www.usc.edu/isd/locations/ssh/doheny/ref/BHM/Biddy_Mason.html
- Oakland Museum of California: Gold Fever - http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/fever13-cy.html Go to "What Price Freedom?"
- Oakland Museum of California: Gold Fever Law - http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/fever16-di.html Go to the paragraphs beginning "Deep Prejudice" and "In 1855, ..."
- Oakland Museum of California: Silver and Gold - http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/silver-mineatsf.html
- Art Historian: The Women of the Westward Movement exhibit will feature many of the quilts made by the women who traveled west. Unfortunately, the curators do not have any quilts made by African American women. They would like you to research African American quilting and then create a quilt design to commemorate Biddy Mason's life. The curators are leaving all design decisions up to you. Your quilt design will be the focal point of your exhibit. Your research should include a minimum of three sources. Use the Notes template to record your sources and information.
Harriet Powell Quilt
- In Print Resources:
- Check your textbook for background on quilts as an early American - but ancient African - art form.
- Online Resources:
- African American Quilting Traditions - http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/quilt/atrads.html
- African-American Quilts - http://www.womenfolk.com/grandmothers/afam.htm
- Oakland Museum of California: Articles of the Gold Rush - http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/ar06.html The first paragraph and the 11th paragraph "Women coming west..." have the most information for this lesson.
- Archivist: In addition to the quilt, timeline, and map, the curators would like your exhibit to include reproductions of artifacts from her life. Your research should include a minimum of three sources. Use the Notes template to record your sources and information.
- In Print Resources:
- Albert T. Cooper's beautiful illustrations in Open Hands, Open Heart, The Story of Biddy Mason will inspire you to create your own original hand drawn or computer generated images from Biddy's life.
- Ralph L. Ramstad's black and white sketches in Jeri Chase Ferris's With Open Hands, A Story About Biddy Mason are also a wonderful source of ideas.
- Online Resources:
- Oakland Museum of California: Women on the Overland Journey - http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/ar09.html
- Biddy Mason and Her Descendants - http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/ar09.html
- Black Women of the frontier - http://www.caladvocate.com/articles/blkhstry1.html
- Bridget "Biddy" Mason - http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/mason-b.html
- Digital Mural - http://www.sparcmurals.org/product/digimag/Biddy.html
- History of Black Americans in California - http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/5views/5views2h14.htm
- USC Libraries - http://www.usc.edu/isd/locations/ssh/doheny/ref/BHM/Biddy_Mason.html
- Journalist: You will need to write a press release describing your team's exhibit. The curators are counting on you to come up with an article that will motivate the general public to flock to Women of the Westward Movement. Your article should focus on Biddy Mason and should clearly expain why her journey to California is an important chapter in the story of Westward Movement. Your research should include a minimum of three sources. Use the Notes template to record your sources and information. Remember: your article is to be included as part of your exhibit.
- In Print Resources: Check your textbook for information about women during the Westward Movement. What information does your text have about African-Americans in the early west - both free men and slaves?
- Online Resources:
- Women of the Gold Rush - http://claim.goldrush.com/~joann/ See sections "The Women" and "The Elephant"
- The Gold Rush: Collison of Cultures - http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/collision.html
- Bridget "Biddy" Mason - http://www.netsrq.com/~dbois/mason-b.html
- Bridget "Biddy" Mason - http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/mason-b.html
- History of Black Americans in California - http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/5views/5views2h14.htm
LEARNING ADVICE
Decide as a group, how you will present your exhibit. Keep in mind that you will be presenting in front of a review team (your teacher and classmates). Be sure your exhibit can be easily viewed by the audience. Each team member will be expected to participate equally in the oral presentation. Use the Scoring Guide for Oral Presentations to help you prepare for your presentation.
In order to complete your exhibit in time for the opening of Women of the Westward Movement, you will need to work together cooperatively and make every minute of classroom and at-home research time count. As you begin the project, read through the specific individual scoring guide for your role (see EVALUATION). Use the scoring guides as a checklist before turning in your part of the project.
You will be evaluated on your individual performance of your role as well as on your group participation.
The history of Westward Movement is a story of many beginnings and ends. The fact that Biddy Mason's road to California ended in her emancipation is a testament to the human spirit. Despite hardships, obstacles, and set backs, this courageous woman refused to give up until she gained her freedom. What lessons can we learn from Biddy Mason's life? Can you think of other men, women, or children who possess the same type of determination and/or generosity as Biddy showed throughout her life?
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On the Road West