Lesson Two Pacing

UNIT FOUR: THE GROWTH OF MICHIGAN Lesson Two Economic Growth and Lumbering

The BIG Ideas… The natural resources in Michigan have been used for economic activities. These economic activities helped Michigan grow and develop. One very important economic activity was lumbering. Lumbering made use of Michigan’s forests and rivers. Towns grew up in lumbering areas to provide goods and services.

Photograph One

Photograph Two

Analyzing Photographs: With your partner you should examine the photographs and try to figure what is going on in each of them. What things can you identify in the photographs? Where do you think the photographs were taken? What are people doing in the photographs? Do you think the photographs are connected in some way? Why or why not?

What things can you identify in the photographs? Where do you think the photographs were taken? What are people doing in the photographs? Do you think the photographs are connected in some way? Why or why not? Analyzing Photographs: With your partner you should examine the photographs and try to figure what is going on in each of them.

economic activities different ways people use resources to make goods and services Example: Farming and mining are economic activities.

Economic Activities The two photographs show an important economic activity that began in Michigan just around the time Michigan became a state. Early settlers saw trees as both a valuable resource and a problem. They needed the trees for log cabins, but they also needed to clear land of trees in order to farm. In the 1830’s this began to change. People began to see lumbering, or the cutting of trees, as an important economic activity. Several factors led to the growth of the lumber industry.

lumbering an economic activity where people cut down trees as a business Example: Lumbering became important because Michigan had many white pine trees and rivers..

Facts about Lumbering Michigan had many white pine trees in its northern forests. White pine was the most popular wood to use for building in the 1800s. States like Maine and New York had supplied the young country of the United States with white pine. Over time, white pine trees became scarce in these areas. People began to look for a new place where they could find and use white pines. Michigan was the perfect place.

Why Michigan might be ideal for the lumber industry? Think about the natural characteristics of Michigan. Besides having many white pines, Michigan also had a network of rivers that could be used to float the pines to sawmills located at ports on the Great Lakes. The fur trade was just about over in Michigan because beavers had become so scarce. Therefore, people in Michigan needed a new economic activity to take its place.

natural resources things in nature that people find useful Example: Water, soil, and trees are natural resources.

Lumbering Activity The lumber industry created many jobs in Michigan. The next chart shows the people and processes involved in lumbering. You should cut out the sequence strips and glue them in the correct places on the chart.

The Lumbering Process A site was chosen for logging. Workers moved into the camp. Lumberjacks began to cut trees in winter. Sleighs were used to move the logs to the banks of a river. Stampers put a log mark on the end of each log. This mark showed which company owned the log. Men called “riverhogs” rode the logs to the mouth of the river. The logs were floated to a sawmill where they are cut into boards.

The Lumbering Process Directions: Cut the pieces out and place them in the correct place on the sequence chart. Ships took the boards to cities like and. The boards were stacked and dried. A logging camp was built on the site with a bunkhouse, stable, blacksmith shop, and cookhouse. At the mouth of the river, “boomers” sorted the logs out by company. Branches were taken off the trees and then the trees were cut into shorter logs about 15 feet long. In spring the logs were pushed into the melting river.

The Lumbering Process – Correct Sequence 1.A site was chosen for logging. 2.A logging camp was built on the site with a bunkhouse, stable, blacksmith shop, and cookhouse. 3.Workers moved into the camp. 4.Lumberjacks began to cut trees in winter. 5.Branches were taken off the trees and then the trees were cut into shorter logs about 15 feet long. 6.Sleighs were used to move the logs to the banks of a river. 7.Stampers put a log mark on the end of each log. This mark showed which company owned the log. 8.In spring the logs were pushed into the melting river. 9.Men called “riverhogs” rode the logs to the mouth of the river. 10.At the mouth of the river, “boomers” sorted the logs out by company. 11.The logs were floated to a sawmill where they are cut into boards. 12.The boards were stacked and dried. 13.Ships took the boards to cities like Chicago and Detroit.

. Historic Photographs of the Industry

Highlight all the different jobs shown on the chart such as lumberjacks, boomers, and river hogs. What economic concept are these different works an example of?

specialization when individuals, regions, and countries produce certain kinds of goods or services Example: Specialization results in people producing fewer goods and services than they consume.

Log Markers What are stampers?  Lumbering companies used log marks to show which logs they owned. This was important because many different companies used the same rivers to float their logs. Historians have collected examples of these log marks. Examine the various log marks on the sheet. “What kinds of things were shown on the marks?”  geometric designs  Trees  pictures like boats Create your own log mark in the appropriate place.

“Where is the Green Gold?” By clicking on the words in color they can get a definition of the word. What was green gold? Why did the family want to go to the logging camp? Why didn’t they want Tom to go? What did the family do at the logging camp?

modifying the environment when people change the environment to fit them Example: People in Michigan modified the environment by cutting down trees to clear land for farming.

EXAMPLES OF LOG MARKS

Who is Paul Bunyan? What is a tall tale? Many Paul Bunyan stories also describe life in a lumber camp just like the computer-based story we just read.

“The Round River Drive” located in Bunyan and Banjoes

Improvements in Technology Improvements in technology affected the lumber industry. These improvements increased logging production.  Silas Overpack invented what became known as the “Big Wheels”. These were used to carry logs to riverbanks and to sawmills. This invention meant that companies could now log in all four seasons because the big wheels could haul logs over land. Previously, companies relied on sleds to move lumber over ice-covered roads. (Note that a video showing an example of Big Wheels can be found at the following website: )  The development of the logging railroad, which used small engines and portable track, also meant they could lumber year round.

Improvements in Technology Silas Overpack: invention of the “Big Wheels”. To carry logs to riverbanks and sawmills. Meant that companies could now log in all four seasons Before: companies relied on sleds to move lumber over ice-covered roads.

Improvements in Technology The development of the logging railroad, which used small engines and portable track, also meant they could lumber year round.

Cutover Lands These improvements meant more and more pines were cut. How do you think this may have affected the environment of Michigan? Where forests once stood there were huge areas in Michigan of stumps and brush that were called “cutover lands.” These “cutover land” areas caused problems such as erosion and fires.

Photograph Three Source: Photo Archive of Over 175 Images of the Lumbering Industry. Michigan Epic. 14 January

Over time there was an effort to replant trees in Michigan in areas that had been heavily lumbered. In addition, lumbering companies now try to be more careful about replanting after they cut trees in an area.

Cause EVENT Effect Trees good for lumber had become scarce in many eastern states. Michigan had both forests and a network of rivers. Lumbering became an important economic activity of Michigan. Towns began in lumbering areas to provide goods and services. The environment was changed as forests were cut down.

Assessment Directions: Choose the best answer: 1. Why were rivers so important in lumbering? a.Rivers were used to clean the logs. b.Lumberjacks used the rivers for fishing. c.Rivers were used to float the logs to a saw mill. d.Frozen rivers were used to slide logs. 2. Why were marks put on the ends of logs? a.To make the logs easier to cut into smaller pieces b.So you could tell what company owned the logs c.So the logs would float better d.To add artwork to the logs 3. What were two improvements that made it easier to lumber? a.steamships and the Erie Canal b.giant saws and big axes c.horses and oxen that could pull wagons of logs d.Big Wheels and logging railroads 4. Farming and lumbering are a.no longer important in Michigan. b.examples of agriculture. c.economic activities. d.only found in the Lower Peninsula now.

What is one way farming and lumbering are alike? What was an important building in a lumbering town? How did lumbering change the environment of ? Complete the chart:

Complete the chart by writing a cause and an effect.

Teacher Notes If time permits, consider supplementing this lesson with one or more of the following activities: Have students read and discuss pages in Meet Michigan or a similar selection relating to the lumber industry in Michigan from another textbook. Have students use the Paul Bunyan pattern in Bunyan and Banjoes for completing one of the three art projects suggested in the book. Teach students the song “Roll Logger, Roll” from Bunyan and Banjoes or perform it as a choral reading. Have students complete the A Day in the Life of a Lumberjack. Activity at the following website: _ ,00.html Have students complete the Process Timeline Activity at the following website:. Have students complete the Tool Activity at the following website:.

Enrichment Activities Have students complete the A Day in the Life of a Lumberjack. Activity at the following website:. ids/0,1607, _ ,00.html

Enrichment Activities Have students complete the Process Timeline Activity at the following website: history.org/lumbering/ProcTime.html

Enrichment Activities Have students complete the Tool Activity at the following website: history.org/lumbering/Tool.html