Victorian women helped civilize California's gold rush era frontier

Graduation Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Education, 2013

Committee Chair Name

Gayle Olson-Raymer

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Elementary curriculum, Frontier civilization, Victorian women, Cult of domesticity, Gold Rush, Humboldt State University -- Projects -- Teaching American History, Humboldt State University -- Projects -- Education, California

Abstract

Due to the lack of written historical documents authored by women during the California Gold Rush, teachers often neglect their presence and influence on the developing society during this era of time in California. This project includes a three-week curriculum for elementary students that addresses the changing role of women on the early California frontier. Students examine the issues women faced in California during the Gold Rush era by utilizing critical thinking skills, analyzing primary documents, and viewing life through the eyes of women pioneers from secondary sources. Working through each lesson, students will gain an appreciation of the story of Gold Rush women and their historical impact on the political and social development of California. Students will be given the opportunity to investigate, judge, and provide their own interpretation of the significance of women's contribution as they take the perspectives of individuals they are studying. This project invites students and teachers to explore historical issues, problems, ideas, values, behaviors, interests, and personalities of women in Gold Rush California. As students and teachers alike do historical research they will learn to view the past beyond the lens of the present and place into context the motives and actions of women who lived in a very different time in the past.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/37720f79f

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