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OUR GOAL: Complete a research project by choosing an important person in American history and answering the following question: Who is this person and what is his or her impact on American history?

Assignment Requirements:

Identify credible sources for your research and create a Works Cited in MLA format
Works Cited Page
Identify three keys pieces of information that help answer your research question
Develop a written presentation to share your research (Students will only be required to upload a presentation, not make an oral presentation to their teacher.)
Tools: Google Slides; Prezi; Canva; Piktochart ; Powerpoint

Example presentation: William Bradford Presentation

Grading Rubric

Date Assigned: November 14, 2024

Due Date: November 22, 2024

Submit your work at the end of Unit 5, Lesson 12

5 answers

Research Project on an Important Person in American History

Person Chosen: Frederick Douglass

Impact on American History

Frederick Douglass was a prominent abolitionist, writer, and speaker who dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of African Americans and advocating for social justice. His contributions had a significant impact on the abolition of slavery and the advancement of civil rights in America.

Key Pieces of Information

  1. Life as an Enslaved Person and Journey to Freedom:

    • Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 in Maryland. He escaped from slavery in 1838 and became a national leader of the abolitionist movement. His experiences shaped his beliefs and gave him a unique perspective on the injustices of slavery.
    • Douglass’s autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), provided a firsthand account of the brutal realities of slavery, galvanizing public opinion against the institution.

  2. Advocacy for Equality and Civil Rights:

    • Douglass was not only an advocate for the abolition of slavery but also a proponent of women's rights. He attended the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and supported the inclusion of women’s suffrage in the movement for civil rights.
    • He believed that true freedom meant universal rights for all individuals, regardless of race or gender, and he spent much of his life speaking and writing about these issues.

  3. Political Engagement and Influence:

    • Douglass was a powerful orator and wrote multiple newspapers, including The North Star, where he published articles advocating for abolition and equal rights.
    • He advised several U.S. presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, on issues of emancipation and civil rights, influencing the political landscape of his time. His advocacy helped pave the way for the passing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.

Credible Sources for Research

  1. Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1845.
  2. McFeely, William S. Frederick Douglass. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991.
  3. Blight, David W. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.

Works Cited

  • Blight, David W. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.
  • Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1845.
  • McFeely, William S. Frederick Douglass. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991.

Presentation Development

Use Google Slides to create a visually appealing presentation that summarizes the key pieces of information while including quotes from Douglass and images that depict his life and activism. Each slide can focus on one key aspect of Douglass's life, supplemented by bullet points, visuals, and possibly video clips of his speeches, to engage the audience and provide a comprehensive understanding of his impact on American history.

Slide Outline:

  1. Title Slide
    • Title: Frederick Douglass: A Champion of Freedom
    • Your Name
    • Date
  2. Early Life
    • Brief overview of his enslaved beginnings
  3. The Path to Freedom
    • Escape from slavery and publication of his autobiography
  4. Advocacy for Rights
    • Focus on abolition and women's rights
  5. Political Engagement
    • Advising presidents and influence on the 13th Amendment
  6. Legacy
    • Lasting impact on civil rights movements
  7. Works Cited
    • List the sources in MLA format

This framework should guide your research and help you create a compelling presentation on Frederick Douglass and his significant contributions to American history.

make it look like a 5th grader wrote it

Research Project on an Important Person in American History

Person Chosen: Frederick Douglass

Impact on American History

Frederick Douglass was a very important person in American history. He worked really hard to end slavery and to make sure that African Americans and women had rights. He used his voice and his writing to make a big difference in the world.

Key Pieces of Information

  1. Frederick Douglass's Early Life:

    • Frederick Douglass was born in 1818 in Maryland. He was born into slavery, which meant he had to work for free and was treated very badly. He escaped from slavery when he was 20 years old in 1838. His story about growing up in slavery is in his book called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. This book helped many people understand how terrible slavery was.

  2. Fighting for Rights:

    • After he escaped, Douglass didn't just want freedom for himself; he wanted freedom for all enslaved people. He spoke out for African Americans and also for women’s rights. He even went to the first women’s rights convention in 1848! He believed that everyone—no matter their color or gender—should be treated equally.

  3. Talking to Presidents and Making Change:

    • Douglass was a great speaker. He wrote newspapers, like The North Star, where he wrote about why slavery was wrong. He talked to important people, including President Abraham Lincoln, to help end slavery. Because of Douglass and others like him, the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865, which officially ended slavery in the United States.

Credible Sources for Research

  1. Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1845.
  2. McFeely, William S. Frederick Douglass. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991.
  3. Blight, David W. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.

Works Cited

  • Blight, David W. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.
  • Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1845.
  • McFeely, William S. Frederick Douglass. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991.

Presentation Development

I will create a Google Slides presentation to show what I learned about Frederick Douglass. Here is how I will organize it:

Slide Outline:

  1. Title Slide:
    • Title: Frederick Douglass: A Champion of Freedom
    • Your Name
    • Date
  2. Early Life:
    • A picture of Douglass
    • Some facts about his early life and slavery
  3. The Path to Freedom:
    • How he escaped and his famous book
  4. Fighting for Rights:
    • What he did for African Americans and women
  5. Talking to Presidents:
    • How he helped end slavery and who he worked with
  6. Legacy:
    • How we remember him today
  7. Works Cited:
    • List of the books I used to research

This project will help me share how important Frederick Douglass was in making America a better place for everyone. I hope you learn something new from my presentation!

make the Slide Outline go horizontal and not vertical

Sure! Here’s the slide outline presented horizontally, with each section listed in a row:

Presentation Slide Outline

  1. Title Slide:

    • Title: Frederick Douglass: A Champion of Freedom | Your Name | Date

  2. Early Life:

    • A picture of Douglass | Some facts about his early life and slavery

  3. The Path to Freedom:

    • How he escaped | His famous book

  4. Fighting for Rights:

    • What he did for African Americans | What he did for women’s rights

  5. Talking to Presidents:

    • How he helped end slavery | Who he worked with (like Lincoln)

  6. Legacy:

    • How we remember him today

  7. Works Cited:

    • List of the books I used to research

This format should be easier to read and follow for your presentation!