FIRESIDE CHATS RECONSTRUCTED

9-12 Grade

AMERICAN HISTORY

by

DONNA F. GRISHAM

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

Polish your radio skills! You are about to become a radio announcer. This project covers different decades, famous people, and Presidents and the events or crises they faced in America. Use the concept of the "fireside chats" given to us by President Franklin Roosevelt and apply it to a decade, famous person, or President in American History.

 

The Task

RCA RADIO 1902

An individual student or a groups will gather information on Andrew Jackson. They will use this information to produce a written and oral report, using the format of a "fireside chat", to make a presentation the class. During the production of their reports they will:

• become a self-starter (take initiative);
• gain a better understanding of the crisis;
• formulate and defend a position;
• design a written and oral report;
• analyze the complexity of the crisis;
• focus on the lifestyle and value system of a particular decade;
• use common sense when determining the material to be used ( what can be used on the radio without offending the general public);
• be creative;
• take advantage of the school library;
• use technology skills (Internet, etc.).

Resources

ANDREW JACKSON

• Andrew Jackson Biographical Information - http://www2.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/aj7.html
• President Andrew Jackson - Seventh President of the U.S. - http://library.advanced.org/12587/contents/personalities/ajackson/aj.html
• Rachel Donelson Jackson - http://www2.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/firstladies/html/rj7.html
• The Hermitage- Home of Pres. Andrew Jackson - http://www.thehermitage.com/
• Andrew Jackson's Elementary School's WWW Page - http://erc.jscc.cc.tn.us/jfn/ajes/
• Sources For Short Information on Andrew Jackson - http://anansi.panix.com/userdirs/hal/jackson-sources.html
• Growth of a Nation 1800-40 Outline - http://www.libarts.sfasu.edu/history/133_Unit3.html
• History of Compromise Legislation / Annotated Chronology - http://www.wfu.edu/users/zulick/340/compromise.html
• U.S. History Wars/Black Hawk War 1832 - http://www.usahistory.com/wars/blackhaw.htm
• Black Hawk - Encarta Online Concise - http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/23/0236f000.htm
• American Indian Land Cessions in Georgia - http://ngeorgia.com/history/indianla.html

 

The Process

You or your group (determined by teacher) will have three class periods to complete this project. If additional time is needed to complete the project, you are expected to do this work outside of class. The following list suggests steps you can take to complete the project.

1. Your decade, famous person, or President will be assigned by the teacher. For this assignment, it will be Andrew Jackson.
2. Research the concept of the "fireside chats" given by President Franklin Roosevelt.
3. Apply the "chat" concept to Andrew Jackson assuming that the radio already existed during the time he was President.
4. Review the following crisis that occurred during President Jackson's term which was earlier assigned by the teacher. Use the following resource list and find two additional resources not listed below. Save the addresses of the two additional web sites you find.
   • The birth of the Democratic Party
   • Tariff of abominations
   • Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet
   • Webster- Hayne Debate
   • Nat Turner Revolt
   • Anti-Masonic Party
   • Trail of Tears
   • Black Hawk War 1832
   • S.C. Ordinance of Nullification
   • Bank of the U.S.
   • American Anti-slavery Society
   • Birth of the Whig Party
   • Seminole Indians
   • Assassination attempt on Jackson 1835
   • American Indian Land Cessions in Georgia
   • Texas declares independence
   • Battle of the Alamo.
5. Construct a written paper on the crisis you are assigned and cite your references from books, magazines, or Internet web site addresses. Your paper can contain pictures, maps, or documents.
6. Construct a news report to be given on the radio for a "fireside chat", remembering the purpose of the "chat" is to calm the American public.
7. Be prepared to give you speech on the radio when called upon by the instructor.
8. Each person or group will be assigned individual grades based on the teacher's grading rubric which will be given to you before the activity begins.

 

Evaluation

Each individual or group's written and oral reports will be evaluated using a grading rubric. The rubric will assess the following categories:

• Is the student focused on the topic?
• Is the report clear and sequential?
• Did the student use correct grammar and spelling?
• How did the student deliver the oral report?
• How effective was the student's use of the media?

Click here to view the grading rubric for this project.

 

Conclusion

After completing this WebQuest you will better understand Andrew Jackson, the man and the President as well as have a better understanding of the lifestyle and value system of a particular decade unlike the one you are presently living in. You will also have more insight into the events or crises that occurred during the time Andrew Jackson was in office.

• When was the Democratic Party organized?
• How did Jackson feel about the Tariff of Abominations?
• What was the "spoils system"?
• What was the role of Jackson in the Webster-Hayne Debate?
• What was the purpose of Nat Turner's revolt?
• What was the first third party in the U.S.?
• Describe the Trail of Tears.
• How did Jackson feel about Native Americans?
• Who was responsible for the Force Bill?
• How did Jackson feel about the Bank of the U.S.?
• Who was responsible for the birth of the Anti-slavery society?
• When was the Whig Party born?
• What happened to the Seminole Indians?
• Who was the first President that was a victim of an assassination attempt?
• What did Jackson do to the Cherokee Indians in Georgia?
• Who was President when Texas declared independence?
• Give the details of the Battle of the Alamo.