EXPLORING
THE
ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN
CANAL
THE CANAL ERA 1790 - 1860
Created by: Andrea Perrin
Highland Middle School Libertyville,
Illinois
Intended Grade Level: 7th grade social studies United States History
Length: 1 ½ - 2 weeks
Illinois Learning Standards:
14.E.3, 15.B.3b, 15.D.3a, 16.A.3b, 16.A.3c, 16.C.3b,
16.C.3c, 16.D.3b, 16.E.3b
Goals:
Students will be able to
Locate the Illinois & Michigan Canal and related landmarks on various maps.
Understand the challenges associated with building a canal.
Understand and apply canal associated vocabulary.
Explain the geographic reasons for building the Illinois & Michigan Canal.
Explain the economic reasons for the location of the Illinois & Michigan Canal.
Explain how people, goods and services, and information moved on the Illinois & Michigan Canal
Analyze the effect the Illinois & Michigan Canal had on Western Expansion in America.
Use primary source materials to evaluate life on a canal boat.
Procedures:
Day 1: Introduction to Canal Era and vocabulary activity
Day 2: Challenges associated with building a canal: labor supply, clearing trees, going uphill, crossing rivers and creeks, competition with railroad (small group activity)
Day 3: Map activity (partner or individual activity)
Days 4/5: Viewing of Prairie Tides video completion and discussion of video guide
Days 6/10(variable): Primary source activities Life on a Canal Boat
Materials:
vocabulary list
copies of handouts
I&M Canal maps
overhead transparency/markers
Prairie Tides video
TV and VCR
primary source materials
Internet Resources:
Lewis University
Canal Corridor Association
Illinois State Archives
www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/i&mpack/i&mintro.html
Chicago Historical Society
I&M Canal Civic Center Authority
Name:
Period:
Illinois and Michigan Canal
Map Activity
1.How many counties does the canal pass through? __________
2.Name the counties:_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3.What is the large body of water east of the canal? ______________
4.Name the eight historic canal tows along the canal: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.Which town is the farthest east? ________________________
6.Which town is the farthest west? ________________________
7.Which river connects with the canal at the eastern most end? _________________________________________________
8.Name the historic canal town closest to lock #1: ________
9.If I wanted to see a restored lock tenders house, where would I go? ___________________________________
10.Name the historic canal town closest to the I&M Canal State Trail Headquarters: _________________________________
11.Name a state park along the canal path: ________________
12.How many miles is it from lock #8 to lock #9? __________
13.Name the major river crossing the canal in Ottawa: ___________________
14.How does the canal cross over a river? _________________
15.Name one shown on the map: ____________________________
16.Name the two major rivers that run parallel with the canal:
___________________________________________________________
(map issued by National Park
Service)
Name:
Period:
Canal Vocabulary Activity
Directions: Write the definition and draw a picture of the following canal related vocabulary words.
Aqueduct
Barter
Canal
Cargo
Cash crops
Charter
Cholera
Locks
Malaria
Mule drivers
Packet boat
Portage
Scrip
Tow path
Typhoid
Name: Period:
Illinois
& Michigan Canal - Prairie Tides Video Guide
Questions to answer while following video:
1. What was the link to the Great Lakes that was shown to Joliet and Marquette on their journey back to Canada?
2. What was the main commodity of Chicago in the early 1800s?
3. What was the length of Mud Lake that Hubbard had to go through?
4. What conflict resulted in the loss of land by the Native Americans that was to become the I & M Canal?
5. What was the population of Chicago in 1826?
6. When was the first railroad built in America? What was the name?
7. Who invented the steel plow? Where was it invented?
8. Who was the chief engineer of the I&M Canal?
9. What was the width, depth, and length of the I&M Canal?
10. Who were the main workers who dug the canal?
11. When did the initial digging of the I&M Canal begin?
12. What were the main tools used to dig the canal?
13. What was discovered under the sand while digging the canal?
14. How were workers paid for digging the canal once money ran out?
15. What did officials believe would be the solution to end the depression?
16. When was the canal completed and filled with the waters of Lake Michigan?
17. How many workers died building the I&M Canal?
18. Canal boats could hold up to how many tons of cargo?
19. What happened in 1853 that was a great blow to the canal industry in Illinois?
20. What replaced mules to power canal boats in the late 1800s?