Graphic Organizers Sample

Meet the Document 1.     The Prigg Case and Fugitive Slavery 1842-1850- court document
Observe its parts The court document was written by the New York Tribune, March 14 1842. Previewed by John Nogee in July 1 1954 in the Journal of African American History
Try to make sense of it The document talks about the issue of slavery that the colored woman Morgan Margaret was supposed to be taken back to the master in Maryland by the attorney Prigg. This issue of arresting the slaves, a fugitive, who moved away from the South salve states, brought a dispute between the two edges, the North and South.  The case relates to the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 that would bring the controversy on states’ rights for slaves, “Prigg was promptly indicted in Pennsylvania for kidnaping in violation   of the Pennsylvania Law of 1826. Around this time some states were free as others were not.
Use it as a historical evidence This document is useful because it records the first case in history that a slave began having states’ rights unlike the earlier treatment that they were property to the master.
Meet the document 2.     “Today in Media History: Reporters describe Lincoln’s 1863 Gettysburg Address.”-  report
Observe its parts The writer was Shedden David working with Poynter Institute organization in November 19 2014.
Try to make sense out of it The report talks about the reaction of newspapers, magazines, and AP wire service in November 19 1863 after president Abraham Lincoln gave his speech.  The printing media criticized the President’s speech claiming that it was not revealing the true cause of the horrible Civil War. The author must have written it to display the nature of politicians to twist even the sensitive information that can possibly harm the public.  The Chicago Tribune quoted, Chicago Tribune: ‘The dedicatory remarks by President Lincoln will live among the annals of man.’ Chicago Times: ‘The cheeks of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat, and dishwatery utterances.’”
Use it as a historical evidence The report captures the words that the newspapers used around the time of the speech. It was unclear whether the resident understood the true cause of the civil war.
3.     “The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States.”- letter
Observe its parts The original writings were by the individual Southern states of Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, and South Carolina sent to the Federal Government. This letter is printed by American Battlefield Trust a reliable organization with each having an approval date of that period of southern  secession
Try to make sense out of it The report presents the letter that each of the four states presented to the federal government following the issue of ending slavery. The southern states gave major reasons for getting out of the union as abolishment of slavery, states’ rights among others. The intent of the author was sharing the actual conditions of the time in the different states. Slavery had brought a lot of economic benefits that they were not willing to let go.
Use it as historical evidence The letters appear to capture the true information on the four States concerning the tension of the North and South that would end up into a civil war.
4.     “Lincoln at Gettysburg: The words that remade America”. – speech
Observe its parts The writer of the published speech is Garry Willis in 1992 published under Simon Schuster. The book contains the speech by Lincoln at Gettysburg.
Try to make sense out of it Garry presents the claim by referring to the original speech of Lincoln at Gettysburg that the Civil War came in order to fight for equality of the violated civil rights through slavery. He further argues that Lincoln’s speech made way for the 14th amendment of the constitution calling for equality on all races. “I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality”, this marks the rampant racism at the time.
Use it as historical evidence The speech as discussed in the book brings the insights on the message of fighting inequality on the colored people by the Whites forming a significant element in understanding the reasons for the division.