American Lives Across the Centuries: What Is an American?
Overview
Students will use the words of Jean de Crèvecoeur in his 1782 work, Letters from an American Farmer, to guide them as they analyze a life history documented by the Works Progress Administration from 1936-1940, using their analyses to create a patchwork of biographies. After, students consider what it means to be an American today and reflect on how the definition of being American has changed over time.
Related Resources
Grade
High School
Subjects
Civics, English Language Arts, Social Studies
Length
120-150 minutes
Topics
America, American, American farmer, American workers, identity, Jean de Crèvecoeur, life histories, oral histories, Works Progress Administration
Author
Teaching with the Library of Congress