Sewing the Seeds of Civil War

Introduction

Grab your needle and thread, and get ready to time travel back to the 1860’s. In this expedition, we will explore the causes and effects of the Civil War and understand the important role that sewing played at home and on the battlefield. The urgency for uniforms pushed the development of the sewing machine which transformed this craft. During the expedition, we will read and discuss letters, photographs, and diary entries to understand what life was like and how sewing was a means for survival and self-expression. What did it mean to be a citizen of the country, who was denied this and why? Each week, students will research a particular historical event about the Civil War and plan their sewing project around one particular Civil War event with a theme like perseverance, loss or bravery. They will connect their present day to the past.  Come help add to the tapestry of stories about this challenging and transforming period in our history!

Essential Questions

• How is art powerful?

• What were the social, political and economic issues that divided Americans before the Civil War?

• How did the Civil War affect the development of “America?” 

• Was the Civil War necessary? Why or why not?

Learning Objectives

• To identify and understand the causes and effects of the Civil War and how it changed the nation.

• To demonstrate understanding how art can be a powerful political tool by applying their knowledge to a creative project.

• To understand and describe the meaning of the emancipation proclamation.

• To identify and effectively use nonfiction literary elements and devices.