History Personified

In 1856 Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beat Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts over the head with a cane. This event, which highlighted the acrimonious debate over the expansion of slavery, is the focus of a paper written from the point of view of the cane. After reading this account, class members are encouraged to research a historical event, assume the personae of a witness or participant  (human or otherwise) and report the event from this personal perspective. The approach is sure to engage the interest of your pupils.