Overview:
Students will examine primary sources including letters, a patent, photos and
diagrams to identify and describe the technological invention and development
of the telegraph that evolved during the 19th century.
Background:
Prior to 1830, communication across the country was limited to overland mail which
took approximately a month to reach its destination or by the pony express which
took about two weeks. In 1837, Samuel F. B. Morse invented a faster way to communicate.
His invention, the telegraph, sent messages from one machine to another along
a wire. A telegraph operator sent a message in Morse code, or a system of electronic
dashes and dots that stood for letters in the alphabet, across a wire. The operator
at the other end translated the code into words. Messages that had once taken
days or weeks now took seconds.
Aim/Essential Question:
How did technology affect communication in the 19th century?
Motivation:
Using the circle map, ask students to brainstorm
the various forms of communication which we use today. Explain that communication
can occur through the media, between friends, verbal and non-verbal, etc.
How did people communicate before the technological advances of today?
Objectives:
Students will analyze primary sources in order to identify key people, objects,
and activities. Subsequently, students will summarize their observations and
comprehension of the event.
Materials:
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