"First Vote" -- U.S. History Student Activity on 15th Amendment

Teachers covering the "Reconstruction Period" following the Civil War may want to use this activity which covers topics on "emancipation," "citizenship." and the importance of "political participation" of African American men. Students are asked to analyze not only the artist's point of view, but also comment on the historical events leading up to the Election of 1868. A complete Teacher's Answer Key is included. This activity could be used at either the middle or high school level.  

Access the complete Activity in either Microsoft WORD (HERE) or in a PDF format (HERE). 

To access many similar AP US History-like "Short Answer" actvities, go to the "Educational" link in the column to the right and select the link by the same name. To obtain many other such activities covering other periods of U.S. History, email JSBOVEE@aol.com.  

Interpreting the "Artist's" Point of View / Main Idea

"The Consecration" is a popular work of world renowned artist, George Cochran Lambdin, provides an excellent writing opportunity for students in grades Five through Adult. Why? Because any plausible answer will be correct! The real test will be for students to explain what is in the drawing the makes them justify their opinions. [For this reason, teachers will want to either project a large color version of the art to students so as to avoid the expense of expensive color copies for each student.]

To access a complete Teacher's Version of the activity in Microsoft WORD, click HERE.  (Copies of the questions can be run off and supplied to students individually from this packet.0.  For a PDF version of it, click HERE. [To access many more AP-like 'Short Answer' student activities, click on that link in the column to the RIGHT under the heading "Educational.']

Featured Educational Lesson: Grades 5 through 12: "Kenckucky Bellle"--

 

The Civil War era poem, Kentucky Belle, by Constance Fenimore Woolson, was once a well-known work of American literature loved and memorized by many American school children. The poem is based upon what the author vowed was a real-life experience once relayed to her when visiting an Ohio area seized with the fear of "Morgan's Raid," [For a powerpoint on the specifics of the life of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan--the famous 'raider' of the Confederacy, see the Powerpoint under that name in the 'PROGRAM' section of this Blog in the column to the right.]

To view a PDF version of the poem, click "HERE."   Click "HERE" for the "WORD" version that contains a student vocabulary and content assessment and other short-answer questions. (These are easy and thus no answer key accompanies them.)

Some or all of the content from the Powerpoint along with the poem make a great "teaching combo!"

Children in the Civil War

Without doubt, children in the mid-nineteenth century matured much faster than children and teens today. This handout provides insight in the lives and contributions of only 7 such children in the Civil War. Together with the poster the SUVCW has provided on the same topic (see the post directly below this one), teachers can easily contrast the way of life for teens then and now. The two-page short biographies may also be accessed by clicking "HERE." 

Youth in the Civil War: Our Latest Poster

Today, when it appears American youth do not want to leave 'the nest' and parents are needed to provide shelter and support for their children well into their late 20s and early 30s, the idea that youth matured much more quickly in the Civil War era seems odd. To illustrate this, the SUVCW put together this poster to help educate today's public about the lives of extraordinary teens and young adults in the mid nineteenth century. 

   This poster is one of many being created by the Isaac Eaton Camp SUVCW to help remind today's audiences of the extraordinary patriotism and sacrifice of Erie County Civil War veterans. These posters are available tor school and public checkout or may be downloaded by anyone. For details, contact JSBovee@aol.com. (We hope to soon have a link to a file showcasing all current posters and how you can check them our or download them in full resolution.)

Capt. Charles M Lynch of the 145th PA Vols.

Capt, Lynch is perhaps symbolic of the thousands of Erie men who marched off to preserve our nation and free a race from slavery. He served from the age of 19--recruiting a company which elected him their captain--and then through meritorious service he was promoted Major, then Lt. Colonel and finally Colonel of the Regiment. He survived countless battles, being wounded. and captured. Following his capture, he made a successful escape from a Confederate prison camp returning to the Union army and eventually to Erie a tremendous hero. Here is his obituary below dated January 3, 1907 from the Erie Daily-News. Click "HERE" for the full PDF 2 page article. 

     We post this in the hope Erie area students and faculty will become more familiar with this local patriot!

SUVCW Begins "Poster Project"-- Starting with the "PA BUCKTAILS!"

  The Isaac Eaton Camp, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the re-enactors of the 150th PA Volunteer "Bucktail" Regiment have begun a "poster project" to help educate today's public to the history, heroism, and sacrifice of Civil War veterans from Western Pennsylvania. It is hoped the posters will be prominently featured at area libraries, summer living history displays, school classrooms, local cemeteries,  and at patriotic organizations. Here are several examples featuring the history of the Bucktail Brigade. More such posters are being planned that will concentrate on soldiers from Erie County's three main regiments. If you'd like to sponsor or get involved in this program contact Tim Bennet (bennett6305@yahoo.com) or Jack Bovee (JSBovee@aol.com).  Contact Jack if you'd like to either check out any of these for your classroom or to have full image PDFs or JPEGs sent to you. It is hoped several compote sets of posters will be available soon! We'll post samples here from time to time so stay tuned! 

Veterans of the 83rd, 111th & 145th PVI Regiments Confined in Andersonville Prison

            

      (Above: From the SUVCW Poster set on Andersonville; Available for school checkout)

Attached below is a list of the men from Erie County's three main Civil War Regiments that were confined for some time to Andersonville Prison in Georgia. In the XCEL file, those whose names have highlighted information were the men who survived or were moved out of Andersonville. Those unhighlighted names are the men who are known to have been buried in the national cemetery at Andersonville. By researching the local men who are highlighted and conducting a name search for them in the NEWSBANK files within the older newspapers from Erie County, qw can hopefully discover some of their stories from the past.  

One on the six men who was condemned by his peers to be a murderous "Raider"--and who was hanged for his predatory activities upon the weak--was a former deserter from the 83rd PA VOL REGIMENT (the "Strong Vincent Regiment"). Patrick Delaney was convicted along with five other principal leaders of the Raiders, and is buried apart from the thousands of Union soldiers who lost their lives at the prison. 

A few of the surviving veterans were asked to share their stories by local newspapers in the decades following the Civil War. We hope to share their names and stories in future posts to this website. Those interested in accessing the XCEL list of Andersonville inmates from the 83rd, 111th and 145th Regiments can do so "HERE."  We'll be adding the names of those from the "Bucktail Regiments" a bit to the south of Erie County at a future date.

SWFL CWRT Defends Arlington's Confederate Memorial !

The Southwest Florida Civil War Roundtable (Naples, Ft. Myers)--after a thorough investigation--saw fit to send to its Congressional delegation (Rep. Daniels, Senators Rubio & Scott) the following letter as to why the "Naming Commission" of the Department of Defense is wrong to secure the removal of the Confederate memorial in Arlington Cemetery. Chief among their reasons is that far from being thought of as divisive today, that memorial was designed and celebrated as a symbol of national UNITY at the time. Virtually all Americans, including each and every one of our Presidents for many decades afterward thought so. Should we today, in another time of disunity and division, remove what was conceived in the early 1900s as an instrument to unite us as a people? This effort is an especially contentious proposal in light of today's Pentagon being itself a cause of disunity within our nation.  Its massive indoctrination of "white privilege," "Critical Race Theory," and its view--based upon little evidence--that "white supremacy" poses the greatest threat to our nation is very likely the reason recruitment is at an all time low!  Note that our military is weaker today than ever and it does not consider Russian or Chineses attempts to weaken our military, our nation, or our people's resolve. The very top Pentagon spokesperson for diversity has repeatedly referred wo our nation's white population in what can only be described as racist terms, yet the woman faces no criticism from her superiors. 

Few Americans are aware that the family of U.S. Grant held a Black female slave belonging this his wife throughout his campaigning with the army and for months AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation. Robert E. Lee, on the other hand, had not only freed approximately 200 slaves of his wife's family but paid for their education and even their repatriation. to Liberia, Africa, if they so choose. (Only 2 of approximately 200 of his slaves chose to return to Africa. What would today's leaders of Diversity and Equity explain that?)

For more details and still other reasons for their position on this divisive proposal, please refer to the Roundtable's letter "HERE."  To review the life and contributions of Robert E. Lee as an American as well as a defense of him against the common  charge of his "racism" and "treason" we recommend the following Powerpoint "HERE."  (Well over 25 sources were consulted for this Powerpoint and the "Notes" section for each slide contains additional information. For a PDF version [will not have access to the 'notes'] click "HERE."