here's the truth: there was too many deaths for this to go unnoticed.
the trail of truth
project proposal
The Trail of Truth Mini-Documentary
Lily Zhang
The Team 21 Academic 3
November 17, 2014
The Trail of Truth Mini-Documentary
PROJECT PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
We hope to show the causes and effects of the traumatic experience that slaves and Native Americans alike suffered during the industrialization of Georgia.
Many people know about Eli Whitney, the young genius who invented the cotton engine. The cotton engine, or later more famously the cotton gin, was an mechanically future forward design of the era. It led to an incredibly fast economic rise of the new state. However, this also led to many people who suffered much unlike others as that time. Slaves. The slaves were a cheap, profitable and virtually endless source of labor that suffered more than more people who study this expect. Then came the railroad, a bustling new mode of transportation. This lessened the need for muscle, but increased the never ending need for cheap labor. The impact of these two mechanical wonder in Georgia were something unseen anytime before and greatly increased the success, but not without the expense of a large population of slaves.
Everyone knows that the Trail of Tears was a very traumatic and horrid event. However, not many know what led to the forced movement of the Native Americans. We hope to uncover the truth of the Trail of Tears, which is why our project is to be called the Trail of Truth. The need and greed for land and industry overcame what could be provided and that pushed past the limits. It also demanded that people that were considered lesser than themselves due to the fact that they were not white.
Our project is going to outline and expose the hard, cold facts, no matter what the audience wishes to hear, we are going to give them the material in the raw. We are aiming to educate students regarding the horrors of the truth of these two major events of the American Industrial Revolution. The Trail of Truth PowerPoint presentation is created to reveal and expose what really happened during these times.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
REQUIRED STANDARDS
36c - defend how technological developments impacted Georgia’s growth to include the cotton gin and railroads
36d - analyze the events that led to the removal of the Creeks and Cherokees including the roles of Alexander McGillivray, William McIntosh, Sequoyah, John Ross, the Dahlonega Gold Rush, Worcester v. Georgia, Andrew Jackson, John Marshall, and the Trail of tears
VOCABULARY
Railroads- rails that provided a means of faster, cheaper transportation
Native Americans- tribes of people indigenous to the land
Creek Indians- Native Americans who formed a strong alliance long before Europeans arrived
Cherokee Indians-Native Americans who were the dominant stronghold in N. America before the removal of Natives
Trail of Tears- the Trail that removed many thousands of Native Americans and caused many thousands deaths. occured in 1830
Alexander McGillivray- Upper Creek chief that led the nation for the years following the American Revolution
William McIntosh-Lower Creek chief who supported the American wish to take Creek lands, executed for his actions
Sequoyah- creator of the first Cherokee written language
John Ross-made efforts to rebuild the Cherokee Nation even after the Trail of Tears
Dahlonega Gold Rush- discovery of gold in Georgia, first gold rush in America
Worcester v. Georgia
Andrew Jackson-16th President of the Union who supported and enforced the removal of Indians
John Marshall-Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who declared Georgian law unconstitutional regarding the Native removal
Terminus-the last stop of a Railroad
Atlanta- the last stop of the Eastern and Atlantic railroad, first named Terminus, then Atlanta
Eli Whitney- inventor of the cotton engine
Cotton Gin- a machine that mechanically separated the seeds of the cotton from the cotton
Commercial Agriculture- farming where the surplus could be sold for a profit
HOPEFUL OUTCOME
We hope that this presentation can open the eyes of the naïve and innocent and expose them to the true horrors of even the creation of current-day America. This project is not aimed to scare students, but rather show them the ugly side of things that more people than they realize experience. These two major events in the American Industrial Revolution affects people to this day, whether it be the blacks who are still prejudiced, or the Native Americans who live on land that was not their homeland.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTNERS
Lily Zhang - 36C information, including details regarding the cotton gin, slave population, and railroads of the time and of the present, and writing, as well as editing portions of the 36C information. -
Ana Shin - 36D information regarding the causes, effects, people, and events involving or leading up to the Trail of Tears, and scripting, as well as the writing and editing portions of the 36 C and D information.
RESULTS
We would consider this project/ mini presentation a success. We have completed a detailed yet concise piece accompanied with an interesting set of pictures. The powerpoint can be viewed and shared easily throughout the Internet and the museum site. As many as possible color photos were used, and only high-definition images were even considered. In a short time of approximately ten minutes, two AKS (36C & 36D) have been taught to the students. From the creation of the cotton gin to the expansion of the railroad, we have seen Georgia's industry grow. From the bone-chilling suffering and bullying the American Indians, we have been taught to respect others and their cultures.
Our intended result was to educate students in a short amount of time enough for them to ace their tests or build their projects. We have found it to be ridiculously successful, as it has helped even the two hosts better understand the information. When it becomes available for widespread use, it will able to teach many students of history the development of America’s land and greed and the industrialization of the South.
REFLECTION: LILY
I have personally learned a lot about the state and the industrialization of the South, and in particular, Georgia. I had no idea that Eli Whitney’s work had been stolen by many since patents were not yet widely respected. I didn’t even know what a cotton seed looked like before I searched up an image for this project. All I knew was that it was small and pointy and could cut your hands. Similarly, I didn’t know anything about railroads except that the Transcontinental Railroad used a lot of TNT and the labor of many Chinese prior to this project. I have never before done this kind of project, so it was refreshing. I myself will probably work to take on more work next time. Also, it would be preferred to finish projects much before the due date.
REFLECTION: ANA
I didn’t realize that so many events and people were involved in the Trail of Tears or how many people really died on the trail. I did know about the cotton gin and Sequoyah, but I did not know how the cotton was separated or the full story of Sequoyah’s syllabary. This project really helped me to understand the concepts of this unit and the full story of the Trail of Tears. We had some problems with the technology, so we didn’t get to make the documentary like we wanted, but we managed to put a powerpoint together last-minute. I think this project was very informative and allowed us to dig deeper into the unit than others have. If the documentary worked out, then it would’ve been great, but that didn’t happen. However, it was still a great learning experience and I would definitely do this project again.
REFERENCES:
"Cotton Gin and Eli Whitney." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney
" ." Western & Atlantic Railroad. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
http://railga.com/watl.html
"Trail of Tears." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/trail-of-tears
"Welcome to My State History!" Welcome to My State History! N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
http://mystatehistory.com/georgia/ga_05/book.html n.
Lily Zhang
The Team 21 Academic 3
November 17, 2014
The Trail of Truth Mini-Documentary
PROJECT PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
We hope to show the causes and effects of the traumatic experience that slaves and Native Americans alike suffered during the industrialization of Georgia.
Many people know about Eli Whitney, the young genius who invented the cotton engine. The cotton engine, or later more famously the cotton gin, was an mechanically future forward design of the era. It led to an incredibly fast economic rise of the new state. However, this also led to many people who suffered much unlike others as that time. Slaves. The slaves were a cheap, profitable and virtually endless source of labor that suffered more than more people who study this expect. Then came the railroad, a bustling new mode of transportation. This lessened the need for muscle, but increased the never ending need for cheap labor. The impact of these two mechanical wonder in Georgia were something unseen anytime before and greatly increased the success, but not without the expense of a large population of slaves.
Everyone knows that the Trail of Tears was a very traumatic and horrid event. However, not many know what led to the forced movement of the Native Americans. We hope to uncover the truth of the Trail of Tears, which is why our project is to be called the Trail of Truth. The need and greed for land and industry overcame what could be provided and that pushed past the limits. It also demanded that people that were considered lesser than themselves due to the fact that they were not white.
Our project is going to outline and expose the hard, cold facts, no matter what the audience wishes to hear, we are going to give them the material in the raw. We are aiming to educate students regarding the horrors of the truth of these two major events of the American Industrial Revolution. The Trail of Truth PowerPoint presentation is created to reveal and expose what really happened during these times.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- We’ve discovered that many people underestimate the effects of the Industrial Revolution in America. People don’t realize the number of Native Americans that died in the Trail of Tears, or the impact of the Dahlonega Gold Rush, much less the way cotton gins and railroads affected the slave population.
- By creating the Trail of Truth short documentary, we hope to guide students to a better understanding of what happened in the early days, where the hunger for land was greater. We aim to ensure the freedom and liberties that a citizen has by showing them what restricting those rights can result in.
REQUIRED STANDARDS
36c - defend how technological developments impacted Georgia’s growth to include the cotton gin and railroads
36d - analyze the events that led to the removal of the Creeks and Cherokees including the roles of Alexander McGillivray, William McIntosh, Sequoyah, John Ross, the Dahlonega Gold Rush, Worcester v. Georgia, Andrew Jackson, John Marshall, and the Trail of tears
VOCABULARY
Railroads- rails that provided a means of faster, cheaper transportation
Native Americans- tribes of people indigenous to the land
Creek Indians- Native Americans who formed a strong alliance long before Europeans arrived
Cherokee Indians-Native Americans who were the dominant stronghold in N. America before the removal of Natives
Trail of Tears- the Trail that removed many thousands of Native Americans and caused many thousands deaths. occured in 1830
Alexander McGillivray- Upper Creek chief that led the nation for the years following the American Revolution
William McIntosh-Lower Creek chief who supported the American wish to take Creek lands, executed for his actions
Sequoyah- creator of the first Cherokee written language
John Ross-made efforts to rebuild the Cherokee Nation even after the Trail of Tears
Dahlonega Gold Rush- discovery of gold in Georgia, first gold rush in America
Worcester v. Georgia
Andrew Jackson-16th President of the Union who supported and enforced the removal of Indians
John Marshall-Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who declared Georgian law unconstitutional regarding the Native removal
Terminus-the last stop of a Railroad
Atlanta- the last stop of the Eastern and Atlantic railroad, first named Terminus, then Atlanta
Eli Whitney- inventor of the cotton engine
Cotton Gin- a machine that mechanically separated the seeds of the cotton from the cotton
Commercial Agriculture- farming where the surplus could be sold for a profit
HOPEFUL OUTCOME
We hope that this presentation can open the eyes of the naïve and innocent and expose them to the true horrors of even the creation of current-day America. This project is not aimed to scare students, but rather show them the ugly side of things that more people than they realize experience. These two major events in the American Industrial Revolution affects people to this day, whether it be the blacks who are still prejudiced, or the Native Americans who live on land that was not their homeland.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTNERS
Lily Zhang - 36C information, including details regarding the cotton gin, slave population, and railroads of the time and of the present, and writing, as well as editing portions of the 36C information. -
Ana Shin - 36D information regarding the causes, effects, people, and events involving or leading up to the Trail of Tears, and scripting, as well as the writing and editing portions of the 36 C and D information.
RESULTS
We would consider this project/ mini presentation a success. We have completed a detailed yet concise piece accompanied with an interesting set of pictures. The powerpoint can be viewed and shared easily throughout the Internet and the museum site. As many as possible color photos were used, and only high-definition images were even considered. In a short time of approximately ten minutes, two AKS (36C & 36D) have been taught to the students. From the creation of the cotton gin to the expansion of the railroad, we have seen Georgia's industry grow. From the bone-chilling suffering and bullying the American Indians, we have been taught to respect others and their cultures.
Our intended result was to educate students in a short amount of time enough for them to ace their tests or build their projects. We have found it to be ridiculously successful, as it has helped even the two hosts better understand the information. When it becomes available for widespread use, it will able to teach many students of history the development of America’s land and greed and the industrialization of the South.
REFLECTION: LILY
I have personally learned a lot about the state and the industrialization of the South, and in particular, Georgia. I had no idea that Eli Whitney’s work had been stolen by many since patents were not yet widely respected. I didn’t even know what a cotton seed looked like before I searched up an image for this project. All I knew was that it was small and pointy and could cut your hands. Similarly, I didn’t know anything about railroads except that the Transcontinental Railroad used a lot of TNT and the labor of many Chinese prior to this project. I have never before done this kind of project, so it was refreshing. I myself will probably work to take on more work next time. Also, it would be preferred to finish projects much before the due date.
REFLECTION: ANA
I didn’t realize that so many events and people were involved in the Trail of Tears or how many people really died on the trail. I did know about the cotton gin and Sequoyah, but I did not know how the cotton was separated or the full story of Sequoyah’s syllabary. This project really helped me to understand the concepts of this unit and the full story of the Trail of Tears. We had some problems with the technology, so we didn’t get to make the documentary like we wanted, but we managed to put a powerpoint together last-minute. I think this project was very informative and allowed us to dig deeper into the unit than others have. If the documentary worked out, then it would’ve been great, but that didn’t happen. However, it was still a great learning experience and I would definitely do this project again.
REFERENCES:
"Cotton Gin and Eli Whitney." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney
" ." Western & Atlantic Railroad. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
http://railga.com/watl.html
"Trail of Tears." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/trail-of-tears
"Welcome to My State History!" Welcome to My State History! N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
http://mystatehistory.com/georgia/ga_05/book.html n.