Process Paper
Our NHD topic was the telegraph, which interested us both in how it affected the civil war. We wanted to pick something that we would like to learn about, and the telegraph in the Civil War sparked our interest, because the telegraph was something that we were fairly familiar with, but we did not know all of the details about it. Also, the topic we chose went hand and hand with the theme of a turning point in history.
Researching this topic was somewhat challenging, seeing how it was invented in the 1860’s. Secondary sources were plentiful, but primary sources came down to old newspaper articles and worker accounts. We each found a few sites so the work would be divided equally. One of us would do their research, who would then give it to the other. Each would research their portion, as well as add in their partner’s research.
Last year we both did a website, but in different groups and on completely separate topics. Both of us figured that a website would fit, since we’d had previous experience with a National History Day website. We also enjoy working with computers and other means of technology. After composing a couple of draft slides for our project, we got together and added our research and data to the website. We split our research into different segments: one slide about Morse Code, one about the telegraph itself, and one about the usage of the telegraph on the separate sides of the Civil War. We then carefully revised, added to, and enhanced our website.
The theme of a turning point in history easily relates to the telegraph, seeing how the use of the telegraph may have changed the outcome of the civil war, which may have in turn affected our country and our world, as we know it. When information and communication were key to victory in the civil war (and still are today), a few days of delay in delivering a letter was unacceptable. Also, the rapid information gave rise to a very active media.
Researching this topic was somewhat challenging, seeing how it was invented in the 1860’s. Secondary sources were plentiful, but primary sources came down to old newspaper articles and worker accounts. We each found a few sites so the work would be divided equally. One of us would do their research, who would then give it to the other. Each would research their portion, as well as add in their partner’s research.
Last year we both did a website, but in different groups and on completely separate topics. Both of us figured that a website would fit, since we’d had previous experience with a National History Day website. We also enjoy working with computers and other means of technology. After composing a couple of draft slides for our project, we got together and added our research and data to the website. We split our research into different segments: one slide about Morse Code, one about the telegraph itself, and one about the usage of the telegraph on the separate sides of the Civil War. We then carefully revised, added to, and enhanced our website.
The theme of a turning point in history easily relates to the telegraph, seeing how the use of the telegraph may have changed the outcome of the civil war, which may have in turn affected our country and our world, as we know it. When information and communication were key to victory in the civil war (and still are today), a few days of delay in delivering a letter was unacceptable. Also, the rapid information gave rise to a very active media.