The sub-themes of myth v. reality and pragmatism v. idealism are applied to the study of each group of settlers. The push to settle the continent provides an excellent opportunity to examine our history of intolerance by examining the treatment of Mormons, Native Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. The push is also examined by addressing the sub-theme of man v. land as students observe a variety of attitudes toward the land though the writings of William Byrd, Chief Seattle and others. The pioneer diaries of women sodbusters and speeches by Sojourner Truth and Cady Elizabeth Stanton examine roles, responsibilities, and rights of women during the period. Course content is supplemented by an extensive simulation game that moves student pioneer families across the continent while encountering natural disasters, Native Americans, artists and supply shortages.
Students also try their hand at real life pioneer skills during an overnight camp out.
The focus of this 3-4 week unit is our fascination with the mythical farmer and rural life, as described by Franklin, DeCrevecoeur and Jefferson, compared to the highs and lows of actual farm life due to industrialization, war, and the depression. This unit includes a study of stability v. change as we examine regional differences at the midpoint of the 19th century that led to civil war and reconstruction. A variety of short stories are used to explore the farmers attitude toward the land and the qualities associated with rural living. Contemporary readings by Wayne Flynt help students relate the current poverty of our state to reconstruction and the advent of sharecropping. We also examine the social history of the 1930s to study the expanded role of women and black Americans in government, the increasing demands on government and society by black Americans and labor unions, and the changing family dynamics due to poverty and unemployment.