Module 12 Assignment: Visualizing Historical Connections

Instructions

Step 1: Choose a reform movement from the course content (2nd Great Awakening/religious revival, Transcendentalism, Abolitionism, Women’s Rights, health/mind reforms, phrenology, labor reforms, etc).

Step 2: Starting with that reform movement, create a flowchart of Cause and Effect which connects your chosen movement with another late-19th century event (or idea, person, law, movement, etc.) covered in the course. Alternatively, you may choose a major event (or idea, person, law, movement, etc.) from a previous module and connect it to your chosen reform movement. The connection must be based on events, ideas, people, laws, documents, movements, or other historical details which took place in the time period in between your reform movement and your other event.

Step 3: Make a “Works Cited” page and list all of the Modules and section titles where you found the information used in your flowchart. The purpose of the Works Cited page is to practice documenting your sources and following basic instructions for citation formats.

More Details: 

  • You can create a flowchart using any tool you’d prefer, including Google Docs using the Create Drawing feature, or in Microsoft Word using the Insert Shapes command. Other programs such as Canva or Lucidchart may also work. If you prefer, you can also hand-draw your flowchart and scan it to a computer to turn in; just make sure it is a crisp, clear scan.
  • Your chart should have a minimum of 6 nodes: one for your reform movement, one for your event/person/idea/etc., and four detailing the connections between the two. Each node should include the date(s) and 2-4 sentences explaining the connection as clearly as possible.
  • The shape and color of your nodes don’t matter as long as they are in the correct order and lines or arrows are used to show the sequence. Don’t try to get too creative with the layout or appearance at the expense of the information. Simplicity is key!

Worked Example

Reform Movement: Abolitionism (~1830-1863)

Event: The Secession of the Confederacy (1861)

Flowchart showing that abolitionism led to the Compromise of 1850, then Uncle Tom's Cabin, Personal Liberty Laws, the Election of 1860, and the Secession Crisis

Works Cited:

  • Node #1, Abolitionism. “Module 12: Religion and Reform, in Lumen Learning Waymaker US History 1. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-ushistory1/chapter/abolitionism/.
  • Node #2, The Compromise of 1850. “Module 13: The Sectional Crisis” in Lumen Learning Waymaker US History 1. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-ushistory1/chapter/the-compromise-of-1850/.
  • etc…

Note: Make sure to choose historical details that have a direct connection with one another, even if they are not the only connection. For instance, in the example above, Uncle Tom’s Cabin did not cause the Secession on its own, but it did inflame the political and social tensions which already existed and those tensions resulted in events that led to the Secession. Therefore it is placed in the middle of the flowchart. You do not have to make a node for every single contributing factor leading to your final node, but all the nodes must have a direct connection to the previous one.

Assignment Grading Rubric:

Criteria Poor Good Excellent Points
Connections Connections between items are tenuous, unclear, or non-existent. Connections between items are not readily apparent, vague, or lack context, require more details or information to make the connection clear. Connections are well-established by student, clear sense of cause and effect between items, use of research and critical thinking skills is apparent. ___/8
Information Information is missing, inaccurate, unclear, or does not support the connection between items. Information is accurate, but vague or lacking context, requiring more or different details to make the connection. Information is clear, accurate, concise, and supports connections between items. ___/6
Flowchart Layout Layout is disjointed, missing nodes or connectors, sequence is unclear, or flowchart is unreadable. All nodes and connectors are present and sequence is clear, but layout is complex or disjointed, requiring clarification. All nodes and connectors are present, sequence is clear, layout is smooth and easy to understand. ___/3
Works Cited Works Cited is missing, incomplete, or does not follow instructions and provided format. Works Cited is complete and accurate, but does not follow instructions and format. Works Cited is complete, accurate, and follows all instructions and format. ___/3
Total ___/20