Resumen:
Governor Morton had much going on, and couldn’t just work within his own borders without the help and the guidance of the Federal Government. He needed aid, and that aid was sometimes slow in coming. Thus, the Secretary of Defense, Simon Cameron, was always the man to go to. However, as can be seen in these dispatches, they weren’t always pleasant.
Descripción:
1.) First, the students will read the correspondence between the two men. They will need to really look at it from both men’s perspective, considering what both men are up against and what they have going on in their respective offices.
2.) Next, they will analyze whether or not the tone was appropriate. Etiquette in times of war and other national crises are sometimes thrown out the window and this will be something they will explore and write about. A possible question could be, “Is the manner in which Governor Morton is going about speaking with the Secretary of War a way of working together or causing more problems?” Something in essence like that.
3.) Then, the students can compare what they have written and their opinions with one other partner, either they pick or can be picked by the educator. There should be some differences in opinion on why or why not they agree, and it shouldn’t just be “we agree” and there be no discussion.
4.) Finally, have them get into a much larger group, not the whole group, but smaller groups and have them discuss this way. Same as before, and then possibly have them come up with a course of action on how, if they believe it shouldn’t have been done this way, how it would have been better/worse for Morton.
5.) Whole group discussion.
