Antebellum America: Newspaper Project
Directions: You will design the front page of a newspaper and write an article for
your paper. Use chapter 11 in your textbook as your primary resource but you may
also use encyclopedias and the Internet.
A newspaper article answers the following questions:
 Who was involved?
 What actually happened?
 When and where did the event happen?
 How did the event happen (i.e. what happened first? What was the result?)
 Why did the event happen?

Your newspaper article must answer these questions.
Suggested topics include:
 the Louisiana Purchase, 1803
 the Lewis and Clark expedition,
1804-06
 the War of 1812—select a
battle
 the Indian Removal Act




the Mexican-American War—
select a battle
the Oregon Trail
the California Gold Rush, 1849
the Trail of Tears
Special Notes:
1) You must type your articles following the usual guidelines for typing.
2) You may use construction paper for your newspaper.
3) Neatness is especially important.
4) Be creative to make this look like a newspaper.
5) This will count as a quiz grade for both social studies and writing.
Resources Used:
1)
2)
Rubric:
Whole Newspaper:
Name of newspaper:
Article Headline and date
Pictures/Map (at least 1)
Overall neatness
Spelling and Grammar
Article:
Who?
Where?
When?
What happened?
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
_____5 points
_____5 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
_____10 points
Total Points:______
Comments:
Durham News
May 6, 1830
Iron Horse Stumbles but Impresses!
Baltimore, MD
Yesterday, in an exciting race down at the
Baltimore Mill yard, an iron horse challenged
the speed and swiftness of a horse-drawn
wagon. Designed by Peter Cooper, the Iron
Horse named Tom Thumb raced against a real
horse-drawn wagon led by Greg Beauchaine.
Cooper and Beauchaine raced against each
other for half of a mile, with Cooper and the
Tom Thumb leading until a belt slipped off of
the engine causing it to stall out. Cooper, who
was hoping to impress everyone with the speed
of his “horse,” succeeded.
The Tom Thumb uses a steam engine, which
may become more efficient for railroads
transporting manufactured goods around the
country.