Life on the Mississippi

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Life on the Mississippi Today”

In this activity, students will analyze the impact of steamboat technology on American life, the landscape, and culture to determine its relevance today.

During the pre–Civil War years, the revolutionary technology of the steamboat changed American commerce and travel because it allowed people to move supplies and passengers both up and down the powerful Mississippi River. Consider the impact of the Mississippi River and its importance today. In an essay, compare the importance of the Mississippi River during these two time periods. Here are some ideas that you may want to address in your essay.

• How is travel on the Mississippi River today different than it was in the years before the Civil War?
• Do commercial producers still use the Mississippi River to sell their goods to various river towns?
• How have the towns and communities along the Mississippi River changed since the 1860s?
• Is the steamboat technology described in the text still used on the river today?
• Does the Mississippi River still contribute to the success of riverfront towns?

Highlight the important points of your comparison by sharing your research with peers.