#300 Salisbury, A Town in Transition

Responses to the video? Talk? Were your questions answered?

Unit intro
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Today we are setting out on a largely project-based unit. We will explore the social, economic, and cultural dimensions of local northwest Connecticut life in the period stretching roughly from the 1820s to the 1860s. More specifically we will examine the Market Revolution (early industry and advances in transportation like canals and railways), the evolution of everyday life (from education to sanitation), and the emergence of important movements for social change (temperance, women’s suffrage, and abolitionism). The anchor for much of this learning will be a week-long Cemetery Project, which will be conducted jointly between Humanities History and Humanities English. The research-orientation of this project will allow students to tailor their learning experience to their personal interests.

After today, we will have about three classes focused on preparation followed by about a week in English and History for the project

Questions:

1. What are some goals you have before the Cemetery project starts for information you think would be important or interesting to learn about before we start formally on the project?
   
   
2. What types of sources do you anticipate being of most value for this project? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of jumping on Google?
   
   
3. What are some characteristics of the person you might want to look for in the Cemetery? Roughly what years were they alive? Would you prefer to follow the life of a male or female? What other aspects of this person’s life are important for you to think about before entering the cemetery?