Introduction
How many times have you reflected on the things that you learned in elementary school and beyond? Have you taken a moment to think about our country; The great United States of America? Have you traced the events since before the birth of this nation to the present? If you have, how do you feel about what you learned? Do you feel that you and your culture were well represented? Would you question your learning today? Would you challenge the texts of old? This is what I ask of my students. Even though they are younger in age, they deserve the best educational experience at all times, therefore I inquire of them… “Who is America? How was she built? What is her heritage?”
This unit sets out to answer the question of who America is and how she came to be. From her very beginnings to the current events of late. How did we arrive at the present? Does it match what has been taught? Are there consequences of omitting truth from content that is meant to eventually create productive citizens for today’s society? Is there evidence of the United States’ Constitution being the nation’s guide for Americans of every race and culture? In a society where people are less empathetic and seemingly more judgmental due to the emphasis on academic credentials, certifications and the like, it is imperative that schools across the country strive to provide a thorough and respectful snapshot, inclusive of all peoples’ trials, contributions and accomplishments as a part of the nation’s historical journey. Examining this information and paying homage to the struggles that each culture endured or caused is the key to a functional and cohesive future in which every individual feels he or she can thrive. Making connections from the past to the current, is a way that students can comprehend not only who they are, but who they would like to become as responsible United States citizens.
This unit will focus solely on two historically disparate groups, Native Americans and African Americans. Each has experienced physical and emotional atrocities as well as systemic oppression that has discouraged progress and set them apart from what is perceived as the “All American” majority race and culture. Over a period of five weeks, students will participate in a historical journey that begins with a thorough examination of primary sources such as The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, The Emancipation Proclamation, slave narratives including slave documents and freedom papers, and Native American narratives among others. The goal is to look into the depths of this country’s activities from the viewpoint of the minorities that endured the pain, strife and struggle from America’s youngest moments, to the present. The reasoning is to foster a well-rounded understanding of three specific ideas; how far we have come, if and how we have grown, and how we will proceed, together, as a nation.
Several major historical events will be part of the unit’s focus. 1492 and Columbus’s arrival to the “new land,” The American Revolution and The Civil War. As we journey through these events, we will touch on other happenings in America’s history, such as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, The Trail of Tears and the Civil Rights Movement.
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