Skylar's Young Nation Project

A collection of writing and information mostly on women and black rights in the early-mid 1800's

Monday, April 14, 2008

Era of Reform: Wow Factor

Characters:
Katie- Lucetia Mott
Skylar- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Yessika- Sojourner Truth
Kadijah- Fredrick Douglass

At rise:
At the Seneca Falls convention giving speeches.

Elizabeth Stanton
We have met here today to discuss our rights and wrongs,
civil and political, and not, as some have supposed, to go
into the detail of social life alone. We do not propose to
petition the legislature to make our husbands just,
generous, and courteous, to seat every man at the head of a
cradle, and to clothe every woman in male attire. None of
these points, however important they may be considered by
leading men, will be touched in this convention. As to
their costume, the gentlemen need feel no fear of our
imitating that, for we think it in violation of every
principle of taste, beauty, and dignity; notwithstanding all
the contempt cast upon our loose, flowing garments, we still
admire the graceful folds, and consider our costume far more
artistic than theirs.

(Everyone Claps)


Sojourner Truth
(Stands up)
And ain’t I a woman? Look at me. Look at my arm! I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me…And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get to it-And ain’t I a woman? I have born 13 children and seen most all sold into slavery and when I cried a mother’s grief none but Jesus heard me…. And ain’t I a woman?

(Everyone Claps)


Fredrick Douglass
(Stands up)
A woman should have every honorable motive to exertion which is enjoyed by man, to the full extent of her capacities and endowments. The case is too plain for argument. Nature has given woman the same powers, and subjected her to the same earth, breathes the same air, subsists on the same food, physical, moral, mental and spiritual. She has, therefore, an equal right with man, in all efforts to obtain and maintain a perfect existence.

(Everyone claps)

Lucretia Mott
Whereas, the great precept of nature is conceded to be; "that man shall pursue his own true and substantial happiness." Blackstone, in his Commentaries, remarks, that this law of Nature being coeval with mankind, and dictated by God himself, is of course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the glove, in all countries, and at all times; no human laws are of any validity if contrary to this, and such of them as are valid, derive all their force, and all their validity, and all their authority, mediately and immediately, from this original;
Therefore, Resolved, That such laws as conflict, in any way, with the true and substantial happiness of woman, are contrary to the great precept of nature, and of no validity; for this is "superior in obligation to any other."

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Quiz

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

9 Step Lesson Plan: Era of Reform

1) Title:

“Equal Rights for All.”

2) Concept/Topic:

-The rights of women and African-Americans

3) Essential Questions of Lesson:

- How did the women and African-Americans do to overcome this issue that was hurting the lives of many?

4) Connection:

-Quick write on the rights that they have now compared to what the women and African Americans had.

5) Direct Teaching:

-Yessika- Talks about Sojourner Truth

-Katie- Talks about Dorthea Dix

-Skylar- Talks about Horace Mann

-Kadijah- Talks about Fredrick Douglass

-Skylar- Talks about the Seneca Falls (Concludes)

(People take notes and ask questions at the end. We ask questions to the students (vise-versa))

6) Step-By Step Explanation:

-Directions:
-Pass out word cross
-Fill in words that are listed below that have to do with the subject

7)
Student-Centered Activity:

-Let students complete the word cross
-Ask for student volunteers to answer the cross word and give an example how
the person/word is relevant to our subject (Give out prize if it is right).

8) Assessment:

-We will watch the students intently while they are working and make sure they are actually doing their work. Also we will ask questions to those who need it. The questions should not be about the answers.

9)
Closure:

-We will let students ask questions and we will go over certain areas of confusion.
-We will also ask the students questions and if they answer the question to make sure they understand. We will also give them a prize if they answer it correctly.

Group Members Blogs

Katie- http://youngnationprojectkatie1.blogspot.com/

Yessika- http://youngnationproject-yessika.blogspot.com/

Kadijah- http://youngnationprojectkadijah.blogspot.com/

Monday, April 7, 2008

Helpful Websites

http://www.npg.si.edu/col/seneca/senfalls1.htm

http://www.historynet.com/seneca-falls-convention-first-womens-rights-convention.htm/2

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Diary of Lucy Jones

July 19, 1848
Dear Diary,

Today was the first day of The Seneca Falls convention. I am staying with my close friend Mary Gilbert who has a house here with her family. She is as well as I, attending the convention. I have not yet spoken yet but I wish to tomorrow. I really would like to be an influence on future America. I would not like to see America stay the way it is today. Men should not be superior, we should be equal. No matter what color or gender you are. It seems that every second of the day, we are making progress to a better, equal country. I couldn't help but look over at Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Stanton watching the speakers all day. It made me blush just thinking about my childish behavior. I looked at them as if they were the president of America. Oh, I can't wait until I get to tell what I have to say to all three-hundred people. It would be such a great honor to speak in front of them .
Today, we had exquisite speakers. I started to tear up a bit at a few of the people's stories. They were filled with sorrow, misery and hope. The one that really stood out to me was Sojourner Truth. Her words were very powerful and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. She had gone through so much, more than I have ever and probably will never. I can't imagine the mental damage slavery scars you . She was so brave, speaking about her horrid life. Ain't I a woman... That sentence rings through my ears like a bell. Ain't I a woman... She saw her children get sold to slavery and the torture that was produced towards the slaves. She was so brave, way braver than half the men that think they are more important than us. It doesn't make sense to me that people would think of such crazy thoughts. I ask myself this everyday... Why is it that men are the ones that are grander than us? Since I grew up with two brothers, one older, one younger, I felt the segregation that simmered in our house. The "men" of our family went to school and were my father's favorites. Then my mother and I were left to clean up after them and we had to be used to the rude remarks that came out of my dad and brothers' mouths. It was like they were the kings of the house. It doesn't seem right. I'm sure that my mother would have been in Seneca falls right now, as I am. Where ever she is right now, I bet she is proud of my doings. I am happy to make a difference in the woman and slave race.
This morning I woke up at around six and went down to the town where the convention was held. I saw men and women chanting something that I still can't quite seem to make out, probably because my ears are hard of hearing. They were all parading through the streets and holding petition signs and American flags. I walked to the street of nicely dressed men and women. One of the men came up to me and handed to me a flag. I raised my arm up in the windy sky as I walked. The flag flapped in the wind ever so much. It made me proud to be a woman and proud to be a U.S. citizen. I glanced around at the children and adults crowding the sidewalk, watching all of the attendees of the Seneca Falls Convention.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I am actually worth something. I am not a grain of sand on the beach anymore...I'm part of the powerful ocean. People can look up to me and treat me equal. I already feel the respect that is coming upon the female and African American race. Men are actually realizing that we are people too. We are not worthless and we can do things they do and more. I just can't wait until we finish the Declaration of Sentiments and send it to the legislators. Already, the declaration states how we have no voice in the election and government. As well as being denied education and jobs. Oh, just thinking about this milestone in history is making me shiver with excitement rushing through my body.
I guess I should probably get to bed. The sooner I sleep, the quicker tomorrow will come which means the closer we will get to freedom. I will let you know what happens tomorrow. Wish me luck on my speech, I need it. Good night.

-Lucy Jones