Social Change
Social Change in 19th Century America
This unit of study includes biographies and literature by and about Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) and Harriet Beecher Stowe. It also included a trip to visit their homes in Nook Farm, Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT.
What was you favorite part of the trip? Was it something that you saw in one of the homes, a story that was told about the family, or an activity that the family did at their home? Maybe there was something that you learned at the special program about ‘Social Change in 19th America’ that impressed you or how these two famous authors influenced American history. Write about your favorite part of the field trip and tell me why you liked that part.
We will continue to read about Samuel Clemens and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Write about their lives and/or their literature. Tell me a “Think While Reading” point–I am suprised about. . . !, I wonder about. . .?, or I connection with. . .C
You can write about either author. Please add your comments about their lives and/or their literature.
Podcasts about the lives and literature of Twain and Stowe:
Introduction to the podcasts by Ms. Bogdan
Mark Twain’s house first floor by Loi and Mostafa
Podcast of Mark Twain’s second floor by Jeny and Syeda
Mark Twain’s house third floor by Jeny and Syeda
Samuel Langhorne Clemens by Khadija
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
At the special program I learned that the USA was almost divided into two countries because of slavery and the two famous writers changed the people’s minds. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote UNCLE TOM’S CABIN which helped to stop the slavery. Mark Twain’s book HUCKLE BERRY FINN did the same thing. I liked the conservatory in both houses the most. That was the best parts of the field trip.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Diary entries written by Ercan K.
based on MARK TWAIN by Susan Bivin Aller
Lerner Publications Co. C 2006
Just the facts biographies
ISBN 0822534258
Tuesday, November 30, 1848
Today it was my twelfth birthday. I had a simple party with my family. As a gift, my parents gave me this diary which I will use to record my adventures in Hannibal and beyond! I hope I will have lots of adventures to write about here.
December 10, 1848
Today, I started my job at my brother Orion’s print shop. It was so exciting that I was shaking. I am going to have different friends and some lessons, like how to set the metal letters for type. It is a good thing that I’m an excellent speller because it helps me to work faster and more accurately. I also learned that a printer is paid by the page of set type. So being quick will help me earn more money. Oh! before I forget, I want to say that the telegraphs that we have are making our job easier.
May 11, 1849
Today was the sixth year since my brother Benjamin died. Now I have moved to my Aunt Patsy and Uncle Johns’ place on the Quarles’ farm. There are other families here too to help harvest crops and to take care of the house. Also this place is helping me get healthier and stronger.
June 31, 1859
Today I became a pilot on the Mississippi River. I did know you had to train a lot to become a pilot of a boat. Still, I nearly quit several times during my training year. It was one of the hardest years, but it was worth it. It is great to be a pilot on one of the largest rivers on earth, the Mississippi River. Horace Bixbiy while only nine years older than me has been piloting over a dozen years. He always expected perfection and was quick to get mad if I made a mistake, but I slowly learned the secrets of the river as we moved between New Orleans and St. Louis.
April, 1861
The Civil War has stopped traffic on the Mississippi. President Lincoln has taken control of the river to stop supplies from reaching the Confederate States. This has forced me out of my job as a pilot. I have returned home to Hannibal where my friends have convinced me to join the Confederate cause. I am now a Lieutenant, but I am not sure if either side is completely right. I have been issued a rifle, a mule, three blankets, a frying pan, a suitcase, an overcoat, some rope and an umbrella. We move only at night to avoid Union troops.
July, 1861
I am now in Nevada with my brother Orion. He is working as Secretary to the Governor of the Nevada Territory. While I had planned to work for him, there is really not much for me to do, so I am heading for the Sierra Nevada’s to search for silver and pan for gold. It leaves me plenty of time for reading and for writing about my experiences. I’ve been sending my writings to a newspaper called the TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE in Virginia City.
September, 1862
I have arrived in Virginia City where Joseph Goodman has offered me a paid position on the ENTERPRISE. The pay is not much. The weather is hot and I have little time to write more here, but I’ve signed my first article with the name Mark Twain, the call I heard so often as I piloted the Mississippi.
March 30th, 2010 at 11:51 am
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March 30th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
cont’d, Diary Entries written by Ercan K.
February 30, 1870
Wow, it has been eight years since I have written anything here. I am very happy that I found my diary. I think I probably misplaced it during my trips to New York or in Hawaii but I am very excited that I found it. Well, over this long time I have married a lovely woman Olivia. We got married only 28 days ago. During those years, I spoke and successfully published the book ROUGHING IT, an account of all my adventures. It has been so popular that it has made me a wealthy man. We are now living in Buffalo, Livy’s hometown, in the house give to us by her father.
October, 1871
After a difficult pregnancy and recovery, Livy had our son, Langdon. We have moved to Hartford to be near my publisher, Elisha Bliss. My friend, Joseph Twichell, also lives here, as well as, some of Livy’s friends. Hartford is the best built and handsomest town I have every seen. They have the broadest, straightest streets that ever led ‘a sinner to destruction.’
November, 1873
We have moved into a beautiful new home that we built on our land at Nook Farm. The joy of the birth of our second child who we call Susy has helped us overcome the loss of Langdon. Livy is now expecting our third child. Sale of my book THE INNOCENTS ABROAD, ROUGHING IT, and THE GUILDED AGE have helped us live comfortably.
July, 1874
We are spending a peaceful summer at Quarry Farm in Elmira. As I watch the Chemung River flow by, I remember my childhood in Missouri. I have an idea to write a novel based on the life of a boy there. I am thinking to include my mom as Aunt Polly and my dead brother is going to be the basis of a character named Sid. I hope it will be a great book.
April 12, 1910
Today I’m very sick, so sick that I am having a hard time writing here. So the doctor is going to visit me and then I am going to .
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…
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April 5th, 2010 at 11:36 am
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=224318515C234860
April 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=24317844C234857
April 5th, 2010 at 11:58 am
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April 5th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
title="Wordle: Harriet Beecher Stowe #2">
alt="Wordle: Harriet Beecher Stowe #2"
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April 5th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=24978987C234928
April 6th, 2010 at 10:56 am
title="Wordle: The Prince and the Pauper">
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April 6th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Comment:
April 6th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Mauricio M.C.
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April 26th, 2010 at 11:27 am
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Mark Twain by Joseph C.
May 5th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Mark Twain
By: Tanya C.
Mark Twain’s background was that he lived in Hartford, C.T. He wrote books. His famous books are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, The Adventures of huckleberry Finn.
His young Life and family: He was born on November 30th 1835, in Florida, Missouri when Halley’s comment was visible in the sky. He and his friends went on different adventures in Hannibal.
His education and motivation was that he saw slaves chained together ready to go down the river to be sold.
His older life and his family: He worked as a printer and a steamboat pilot. He married Olivia Langdon and moved to Hartford, CT. They had one son, who died at the age of two. They also had daughters Susy, Clara, and Jean.
Major Contributions: Je wrote a travel book Innocents Abroad. He published books including, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Author’s Court.
Conclusions: He wrote most of his books in Hartford. He died on April 21, 1910, in Redding, CT, when Halley’s Comet was visible in the sky. He was famous because he wrote books to express ideas about black people.