Letter Writing Can Change History

Letter Writing Can Change History

By Carol Jackson

Level: Elementary (5th Grade)

Utah State Core:

Social Studies

Standard 4, Objective 3a: Identify the key ideas, events, and leaders of the Civil War using primary sources.

Language Arts

Standard 7, Objective 2e: Make inferences and draw conclusions from text.

Standard 8, Objective 5c: Produce legible documents with manuscript or cursive handwriting.

Standard 8, Objective 6a: Produce personal writing.

Length: One 50 min. Social Studies period

Summary:

After learning about the exchange of letters between Grace Bedell and Abraham Lincoln, students will participate in writing their own letters.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Students will have a clearer understanding of the value of writing personal letters, and of the effect they have had in history.
Students will learn the process of writing their own letters, and will be able to produce their own letters to mail from school.
Students will understand that letter writing can change history.

Essential Questions:

Has a letter ever changed history?
What can you learn about Grace Bedell and Abraham Lincoln by reading their letters?
What person would you like to write to?
What would you say in a handwritten letter?

Overview:

Letter writing was one of the major sources of communication during the time of the Civil War. Letters were sent to convey information, to express support, to offer condolences, and to bring hope. In 1860, an 11-year-old girl from New York named Grace Bedell, wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln, who was then a presidential candidate. She suggested to him that he would “look a great deal better” with a beard. Abraham Lincoln wrote her back four days later with his response. In our day of texting, emailing, and other forms of using instant communication, letter writing is a skill that can still be used for the same purposes that were useful in the 1800’s.

Invitation to Learn:

Invite two students up to the front of the classroom. Supply them with the costumes (Lincoln tophat, beard, bonnet) and a copy of the Bedell and Lincoln letter transcriptions. Give them a few minutes to review the text, and then have them read their letters aloud to the class.

Activities:

Using the projector, compare primary source documents of Grace Bedell’s letter to Abraham Lincoln with the handwritten and transcript sources. Refer to appendix A, B.

(handwritten)

(transcript)

Review Abraham Lincoln’s response to Grace. See appendix C, D.

(handwritten)

(transcript)

Show pictures of Grace and Abraham Lincoln. Talk about Lincoln’s appearance with and without his beard. Appendix E.

Discuss essential questions with students.

Pass out stationary and envelopes. Model letter writing process on board. Give students time to write letters to someone not in the class (preferably someone out of state).

Invite students to share some of their letters.

Closure activity—read Grace’s Letter to Lincoln by Peter Roop.

Extension Activities:

Tell about Grace Bedell meeting Pres. Lincoln as his train passed by Westfield, NY, on the way to his inauguration in Washingtin, D.C. on Feb. 12, 1861.

Read additional letters from Civil War soldiers to their families.

APPENDIX A

Grace Bedell’s letter to Abraham Lincoln (Oct. 15, 1860)

APPENDIX B

Transcription of Grace Bedell’s letter to Abraham Lincoln Oct. 15, 1860

N Y
Hon A B Lincoln Westfield Chatauque Co
Dear Sir, Oct 15. 1860
My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin's. I am a little girl only eleven years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brother's and part of them will vote for you any way and if you will let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husband's to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is a going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try and get every one to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter dir[e]ct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chatauque County New York
I must not write any more answer this letter right off Good bye
Grace Bedell

APPENDIX C

Abraham Lincoln’s letter to Grace Bedell (Oct. 19, 1960)

APPENDIX D

Transcription of Lincoln’s letter to Grace Bedell Oct. 19, 1860

Miss. Grace Bedell Springfield, Ills.
My dear little Miss. Oct 19. 1860
Your very agreeable letter of the 15th. is received.
I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters. I have three sons---one seventeen, one nine, and one seven, years of age. They, with their mother, constitute my whole family.
As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin it now? Your very sincere well-wisher A. LINCOLN.

APPENDIX E

Lincoln in 1858

Lincoln in 1865

Grace Bedell in the 1870’s