History sleuths read articles for and against Uncle Tom's Cabin, examine visual images, print responses, and multi-media tomitudes to better understand the impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel on American culture prior to the Civil War. Individuals search digital history archives to find information about one of the three types of primary source materials, keep notes and printouts in their field notebooks, and then share their findings with their group.

Concepts

harriet beecher stowe, uncle tom's cabin, antebellum america, the antebellum south, fugitive slaves, the fugitive slave act, abolitionists, slavery, frederick douglass

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have individuals researching the same topic meet and discuss their findings before meeting with the sharing groups resources before

Classroom Considerations

• Tomitudes are spin-off products related to Uncle Tom's Cabin (think Star Wars dolls, plates, figurines)
• Presumes a protocol is in place for the safe, respectful discussion of controversial issues and language
• Check to ensure all class members have Internet access

Pros

• A great model for how to use technology to explore digital archives
• Researchers must provide their own assessment of how much the materials reveal about American culture 

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.6 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.6