Fourth Grade Social Studies Paintings Depicting the History of Missouri To go to Activity One To go to Teacher Page Sandra White, Jana

Teacher Page Fourth Grade Social Studies Content Standards Addressed: The student will demonstrate a knowledge of continuity and change in the history of Missouri. Presentation Tips: Inform the students that these are paintings by famous Missourians; Thomas Hart Benton and George Caleb Bingham. The paintings are the artists’ depictions of life in Missouri in the 1800s. Have them record their responses in their journals. Discuss their responses with them after they have had adequate time to write. There are suggested responses on the page following each activity. Answers may vary. BackForward

Examine the painting carefully. Is this picture in the past or the present? How can you tell? What important event is occurring in the painting? Why is the event important? Click the palette to see sample responses. Thomas Hart Benton

Suggested Responses to Activity One *The painting is in the past because the people are wearing old clothing. The road does not appear to be paved. It looks like a dirt road. A black and white picture could be in the past or the present so that should not be a determining factor. The painting is showing the river flooding. Flooding is a natural occurrence of the Mississippi River. Flooding changes the surface of the land. It adds nutrients to the soil.

Examine the painting carefully. What important form of transportation is depicted? Explain why this form of transportation was so important in the development of cities along the Mississippi River. Click to see response.

This painting depicts famous Mark Twain characters along the Mississippi River. The form of transportation is a steamboat. After the advent of the steamboat travel up and down the river became much faster and easier. People could transport their goods in a more efficient manner. Therefore people chose to locate their cities along the rivers. St. Louis began as a trading post. Before the invention of the steam engine, boats such as keelboats and flatboats could travel down the river with their goods, but they had to be dismantled at the end of their journey because it was too difficult and impractical to attempt to travel back up the river.

George Caleb Bingham “The County Election” What does this painting tell you about voting in Missouri in the 1850s? Click here.

The students should notice that there are no women voting nor any people of color. This election was prior to the women’s suffrage movement and African Americans at that time did not have the right to vote either. They should also notice that the voting does not appear to be a private matter in an isolated booth as it is today. The End!