Lesson Plan

John Brown: Hero or Villain?

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This John Brown: Hero or Villain? lesson plan also includes:

"Love it or leave it." "You're either for us or against us." Rhetoric and it's polarizing effects are the focus of a lesson that uses John Brown's attack on Harper's Ferry as an exemplar. Groups examine primary source documents, identifying the slant of the materials and examples of bias language. Taking into consideration what they have read and class discussions, individuals then present their views on John Brown.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Compare the polarizing effects of Brown's actions to public sentiment surrounding the Vietnam War, Planned Parenthood clinics, etc.
Classroom Considerations
  • The activities presume class members have prior knowledge of John Brown and his role at Pottawatomie Creek and Harper's Ferry; if not, links to introductory information are provided
Pros
  • The five-page packet includes a detailed procedure as well as links to additional primary source materials and other resources
Cons
  • None