United States History Student Edition

Making Connections to Today

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Connecting to the Past

By 1860, nearly 4 million African Americans lived in slavery in the South. Most enslaved people at this time were born in the United States. Even so, they worked to preserve African cultures and traditions. One way they did this was through music. Work songs often used call-and-response rhythms to help set the tempo and relieve boredom during long days in the fields. Religious spirituals were used to spread joy or hope and sometimes contained coded information about escaping slavery. ACTIVITY Writing About African Folk Songs Research famous spirituals, such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” or work songs sung by enslaved African Americans. Choose two songs and analyze the lyrics of each. Compare and contrast the meaning and goals of each song’s lyrics. Then prepare an essay to report on your findings. Was the song used to spread a feeling of joy or sorrow? Was it used to pass the time while working? Include an analysis of each song’s lyrics and how the music influenced the lives of enslaved people.

During the mid-1800s, reformers worked to address problems in education, among other issues. For example, Thomas Gallaudet provided greater opportunities for students with hearing disabilities. Today, Americans work to solve new challenges in education that have arisen in the modern era. Current issues include changes to academic standards, the use of online learning, and ways to promote the study of science and technology. Some reforms have been controversial, such as the role of testing in education and approaches to educating English language learners. ACTIVITY Creating a Pamphlet Work with a partner to research a current reform related to education. Identify a problem and the proposed solutions to fix it. Consider whether or not you agree with these approaches and what kinds of changes you would like to see put into effect. Then create a pamphlet to inform the public about the issue and how it, and education, may be improved upon in the future.

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