5 th grade Map Lesson: Lincoln's Train Ride to Washington, D.C. and Back: The Celebration and Tragedy of Lincoln
Arizona Strand 1: American History
Concept 1: Research Skills for History
PO 1 . Use the following to interpret historical data:
a. timelines - B.C.E. and B.C.; C.E. and A.D.
b. graphs, tables, charts, and maps
PO 2 . Construct timelines of the historical era being studied (e.g., presidents/ world leaders, key events, people)
Concept 5: Westward Expansion
PO 4. Describe how manufacturing, textiles, transportation improvements, and other innovations of the Industrial Revolution contributed to U.S. growth and expansion.
Concept 6: Civil War and Reconstruction
Goal of the Lesson:
The goal of the lesson is for students to understand and create the maps of the train routes which President Lincoln took to his 1861 inauguration in Washington, D.C. and his funeral train back to Springfield, Illinois in 1865. The students will understand the time period of Abraham Lincoln presidency and the use of the railroad as the contemporary transportation system of the mid 1800's.
In 1861, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois to go to Washington, D.C. to become the 16 th U.S. President by riding on an especially designed train that made numerous stops, so that President Lincoln along with numerous dignitaries and his family could be recognized and seen by the American public. On the way, an assassination plot for the Baltimore, Maryland stop was uncovered. President Lincoln then went into Baltimore in the middle of the night causing controversy about his arrival in Washington, D.C. Several years later in 1865, Abraham Lincoln was celebrating the end of the American Civil War by going to a play at the Ford Theater on Good Friday, April 14, 1865 where he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln died the next day, April 15, 1865. His body was taken back to Springfield, Illinois by train along most of the same line that took him four years earlier.
Many historical markers have been placed along this route. These markers are used to show historical events all over America including those in your hometown.
Label a map appropriately noting the chronological order for the inauguration train or the funeral train for Abraham Lincoln.
Have two students, each with a different map, one map is the inauguration route and the other is the funeral train, compare the journey. Write out notes of what they discover. Also hypothesize: Why do you think that they went to these places?
1. http://etc.usf.edu/maps/pages/2600/2640/2640.pdf 1897 map of Northern United States that could be used by students to plot the train's progress.
2. http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/uscap_nl.pdf Map of entire United States with the capitals starred, but not identified.
1. Use this link either online or as a copied handout: http://home.att.net/~rjnorton/Lincoln51.html to find the train stops along the route back to Springfield in 1865
2. Use this link either online or as a copied handout: http://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?SeriesID=32 to find the train stops along the route to Washington D.C. in 1861
http://www.nps.gov/liho/ National Park Service, Lincoln Home site.
"My friends, No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.
Lincoln 1861 Inaugural Train Stops Markers
The stops on the Lincoln funeral train: April 21, 1865 to May 4, 1865. This link has details about events at each stop.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/lincoln-funeral-train.htm Interactive link that shows the funeral train and its stops back to Springfield, IL.