Introduction

Goal

The goal of this lesson plan is to teach high school students about the changing North Carolina agricultural economy of the 20th century. Students will analyze primary sources about tobacco mechanization from the North Carolina State University Special Collections Archives.

Objective

The topic of agriculture is not readily included in high school history curriculum post-Reconstruction. By studying primary sources about agriculture, students will see how rapid mechanization of tobacco production altered farmers’ and laborers' lives. Students will also determine if mechanization empowered or hurt farmers or laborers. This subject offers a perspective into the practices of capitalism. Students will also obtain a new skill in analyzing and interpreting primary sources.  

Important Information

This lesson plan can be split – teachers can either include the agricultural primary sources in the plan, or they can choose to utilize the lesson plan on its own with sources of their choosing. The goal of integrating this lesson plan with the exhibit “Agricultural Empowerment in Academics, Research, and Extension,” is to have high school students think critically about empowerment in various aspects of the North Carolina Agricultural field.

See the attached PDF of the basic Lesson Plan "What is a Primary Source? A How-To Guide for High School Students," which excludes the agricultural Primary Sources.