Westward Expansion: Texas Cultural Groups Vaudeville Show
Background:
From the years of 1800-1860, population in America grew exponentially. Many
groups of people and different countries all had aspirations of settling in the area
known as “The West," the region from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.
Who would live there, what language would be spoken, what religion would
dominate the West are all questions that begged for answers in 1800. Western
boundaries of the US quickly expanded until the US claimed contiguous
sovereignty of North America. The social, political and economic reasons for
expansion vary from place to place, but the new immigrants forever changed the
cultural landscape of the areas they settled. One of these areas is Texas!
Purpose:
Students will work in groups to produce a “Vaudeville Style Variety Show” that
accurately illustrates one cultural group in Texas during Westward Expansion of
the U.S. between the years of 1800-1860. A vaudeville show is a stage
entertainment offering a variety of short acts such as slapstick turns, song-anddance routines, and other brief entertainment numbers. Cultural groups among
vaudeville troupes and performances will vary, but each will tell a story of
westward expansion. Students are to select a variety of items that show what life
was like for their cultural group as they settled out West. In addition to
information from the “Austin Past and Present” DVD, students are to use
primary sources and secondary sources to gain information on your topic.
Information to be included:
1) Reasons for moving out West
2) Map of settlement locations in Texas
3) Interaction with Native Peoples
4) Cultural and scientific information (foods, arts, music, scenic trails
(geography), plant & wildlife observations/discoveries etc...)
5) Gender roles and relationships involved and defined by the event
6) Relationship to the spread and continued existence of slavery
Requirements for the Vaudeville Show:
1) You show should have an opening and closing musical number that
sets the stage and then closes your presentation
2) Also, include a primary source, such as poems, songs, diary entries
and/or speeches that illustrate the human experience from the times.
3) Everything must be thoroughly illustrated. Your show should have
lots of props and include costumes
4) Bibliography
Some cultural groups who settled Texas: You may research others that you
discover!
1) Germans
2) Czechs
3) Mexicans
4) Free African Americans
5) French
6) Swede
Step One: Students should use the DVD “Austin Past and Present” to gather information
about their cultural group’s settlement in Texas. Pay special attention
to the Biographies in the Time Tour and be sure and click on the
pictures during the GeoTour so that you get even more information!
Most of the GeoTour sites have multiple pictures; so don’t forget to
scroll through the whole story.
Step Two: Students should research additional information and locate primary sources to
be used in their vaudeville shows.
Step Three: Design your show. Write the opening number and decide what happens
next in your show. Are you going to have a skit? Perform an
educational comedy routine? How will you incorporate the primary
sources into your show? Then write the closing musical number!
Step Four: Design your props and costumes. Then…Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!
Step Five: Ready, Set…….Let the Show Begin!!!