George M. Guignino
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this exercise is to develop students skills in reading primary source documents. It also allows students to roleplay an historical situation and develop skills of argument.
DAY ONE:
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1. Divide your class into the Canalers and the Riverites.
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2. Assign each group the document which presents their side’s argument for homework. (these documents plus a profile of the canal navigation follow this activity and should be photocopied) April 2, 1830 Riverite’s Argument. April 29, 1830 Canaller’s Argument.
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3. Questions follow the documents and can be given as additional homework or used for discussion.
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4. Have students look at the profile of the canal and draw conclusions. ( use of the map from activity # 3 could be useful)
DAY TWO:
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1. Divide the class into their groups and them ten minutes to choose their leaders for the class debate and to develop their arguments.
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2. They should base their arguments on the previous nights reading.
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3. Allow the group leaders to conduct the debate.
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4. Evaluate and discuss both sides of the argument (use of a CT. map might be useful)
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5. Explain the actual event and discuss whether or not the federal government should have provided the canal with public funds. (the idea of true capitalism vs. a mixed economy)
(figure available in print form)
(figure available in print form)
(figure available in print form)
(figure available in print form)
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Questions for Document dated April 2, 1830
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1. What is the name of the company presenting this argument to the United States House of Representatives?
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2. Why has the company not been able to complete the improvements for the navigation on the Connecticut River? paragraph # 7)
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3. How has the Farmington Canal and the Hampshire Hampden Canal affected the Connecticut River Company. (paragraph # 9)
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4. What are three arguments in favor of improving the river navigation instead of finishing the canal? (paragraphs # 12 15)
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5. What does Alfred Smith ask the federal government to do before it makes its decision?
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6. Briefly state why river transportation is better than using the canal.
Documents are courtesy of the Connecticut Historical Society.
(The society has a very good manuscript collection of materials on the Farmington Canal and would be a good resource to use.)
Questions for document dated April 29, 1830.
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1. According to Hillhouse’s argument, where has the only improvement on the Connecticut River been made?
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2. How successful has steamboat travel been on the Connecticut River?
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3. According to the argument in paragraphs three and four, what was the reason for building the canal?
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4. What are the four problems of the Connecticut River that disrupts the transportation of goods? (paragraph #6)
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5. How many hours would it take to go through all sixty locks of the canal? Just the locks. (paragraph # 8)
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6. Briefly state why canal transportation is better than river transportation.