The lesson begins with an activity that helps students understand the historical record. Students then learn techniques for analyzing primary sources. Finally, students apply these techniques to analyze documents about slavery in the United States. This lesson shows shows how to use social history effectively. The Indian Agent Appointment Interview makes use of the American Life Histories gathered by the Federal Writers Project.
Students assume the role of historical detective and travel back in time to the turn of the century.
As historical detectives, they search for clues to the past in images and primary source documents from the American Memory collections.