Defining Home in America in the 19th Century

Identify causes for homesickness in the 19th century through the songs “Old Folks at Home” and “My Old Kentucky Home.”

By: Patricia Finn & Dr. Susan Key
Estimated Time: 20 - 30 Minutes
Specific Reccomendation: AP United States History

Download Lesson Plan (PDF @ 154KB)

Lesson Details

Goals/Objectives:

  • Identify causes for widespread homesickness in nineteenth-century United States as a result of geographical relocation
  • Analyze the texts of “Old Folks at Home” and “My Old Kentucky Home” with homesickness, as well as the connection that “My Old Kentucky Home” and Uncle Tom’s Cabin have with slave emancipation

Common Core Standards:

  • RH.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole
  • WHST.11-12.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events

Composers

Songs

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