Reference no: EM131913653

Assignment: DC History Project

Historic Monument Proposal

DC is known for its national monuments and memorials. Its time to show the world our own local history. In this second project, you will be writing a proposal for a historic monument or memorial that commemorates a place, event, idea, or person in Antebellum DC or Reconstruction Era DC (1800-1875).

This proposal will be a paper that breaks down the following:

1) A historical analysis of DC during this time period.
2) An analysis of the significance of what you are memorializing and why.
3) A visual blueprint, or written description of what the memorial will look like.

FINALLY, you must make a physical visit to the actual site, place where event or idea occurred, or person lived. This is 15 % of the project. You must take a photo when you get there. The maximum you will get on your project if you don't do this is an 85. This is being assigned very early so you can have time to go out.

Here are some suggestions for what you can memorialize. If there is something that isn't on this list that stood out to you during this unit, let me know!

Abolitionists in Washington
Beverly Snow's Tavern
Black Codes of Washington
Compensated Emancipation Act
Contraband Camps
Fort Stevens Fort Reno Fort DuPont
Howard University
Pearl Affair
Slavery in Washington
Snow Riots

Underground Railroad in DC (specific locations of stops) Washington's Free Black Population

Use this guide to structure your written paper: Part 1: Historical analysis (1.5-2 pages)

o Examine the look and feel of DC before the Civil War. What was here? What did it look like?

o Examine the social groups that lived here. Explain specific tensions involving race and slavery prior to the Civil War.

o Analyze events that reflected tensions prior to the Civil War. Also analyze events, ways, and/or people that fought to address these tensions (i.e. Abolitionists in DC)

o Explain how the city changed as a result of the Civil War

Part 2: What you are memorializing (1-2 pages)

o Describe exactly what you are memorializing. Provide a complete and thorough historical description and how it connects to the time period.

o Explain the significance. Why is this place/idea/person/event important? How it did affect or impact DC and its inhabitants?

o Why should your place/idea/person/event be memorialized?

Part 3: Visual Blueprint or Description of Memorial

o You can either have a drawing of your memorial.

o If you don't have a visual blueprint you must have a half page description of what your memorial will look like.