Freedom Fighters, Freedom Writers: Civil War Letters from Men in the USCT
In this two-day course, students will read letters written by African American men who served in the USCT during the Civil War, learn about letter writing in the nineteenth century, and write a letter in the same style.
Sherri Mehta, Ph.D.
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(75)
What's included
2 live meetings
2 hrs 10 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 11
"Freedom Fighters, Freedom Writers" is an engaging, informative, and interactive two-session, 60-minute course that highlights the service of African American men in the Civil War by more closely looking at the means, motives, and messages present in their letters. The first session of the course kicks off with a brief presentation and Q&A about the United States Colored Troops and their role in the Civil War. As a group, we will read and analyze one letter written by a soldier in the USCT, paying particular attention to the writing conventions and characteristics of his letter. We will discuss the features of the letter as a group. Students will then move to the Breakout Room. Working in small groups, participants will review a virtual soldier's packet that includes a transcribed letter or letters, an image of the original letter (if available), a picture of the soldier or regiment (if available), and any other visual aids that help to formulate each soldier's personal story. Group members will read the soldier's letter, pair it with the biographical information included, and return to the class to briefly present on their findings. I will move about each group giving additional information on each soldier that may not be included in the packets (i.e. their fate after or during service). The second session of "Freedom Fighters, Freedom Writers" will examine the importance of letters and the epistolary tradition within the nineteenth-century African American family and community during the Civil War. Students have an opportunity to view writing implements, books, and papers soldiers used to write letters; to learn more about the schools set up in USCT camps for instruction in reading and writing; and to discover how USCT soldiers sent mail and wired money to loved ones during the Civil War. This session also looks at the guidelines for writing a nineteenth-century letter. Working in small groups in the Breakout Room, students will refer to their soldier's letter from the previous session and write a response in the accepted epistolary form. Students will then have the opportunity to share their letters with the class. This is a wonderful opportunity to cover U.S. history standards, while incorporating oral language, reading comprehension, and writing standards. "Freedom Fighters, Freedom Writers" is also an engaging way to more closely look at African American service in the Civil War while gaining a deeper understanding of the letter writing tradition during this period in American history.
Learning Goals
Students will increase their understanding of the role African American men played in the Civil War through analysis of their letters. Students will learn about nineteenth-century epistolary (letter-writing) standards and conventions used by men in the USCT. Students will broaden their writing skills using nineteenth-century letter writing standards to scribe a soldier's letter.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course studies African American service in the Civil War. This course will discuss slavery, emancipation, and war. This course looks at the historical connection between these three topics from a literary and epistolary lens.
Supply List
Students will receive letters and images for the soldiers discussed in class. Students do not need to purchase any materials for this class.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
5.0
75reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
This course is a fun and engaging way to explore a topic that is often rushed through in literature courses. The natural progression of nineteenth-century literature and history should include study and analysis of one of the most critical moments in our nation's history. I hold a Ph.D. in English Literature and Language with a specialization in Nineteenth-Century African American and American Literature, Epistolary Theory, and African American Epistolary Literature. Additionally, my area of research and scholarship centered on letters written from African American soldiers who served in the USCT. In 2017, I transcribed twenty-one letters written by Pvt. Alonzo Reed of the 102nd Michigan USCT and submitted those transcriptions to Duke University's David Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, where the original letters are housed. I have published articles on this topic in peer-reviewed journals and books, and have presented at conferences, workshops, museums, and educational institutions. My personal connection to the topic and my cross-curricular approach makes this a unique course and learning experience. My third great-grandfather escaped a Virginia plantation and joined the 29th Illinois USCT. Using archival and genealogical resources, I was able to learn more about family, state, and national history. Freedom Fighters, Freedom Writers offers this same opportunity for young learners. For each soldier's letter analyzed, I try to create a more complete picture of the individual in an attempt to bridge the gaps of space and time by turning an abstract soldier into a named, real person. Reviews
Live Group Class
$45
for 2 classes1x per week, 2 weeks
65 min
Completed by 20 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
4-8 learners per class
