The Potawatomi Trail of Death: A Primary Source Research Project
Mark Foley
Note: this is a project for a gifted group of 4-5 students, designed as a part of a
larger Potawatomi cultures research project. This lesson can easily be used as a
whole group lesson.
Essential Questions:
 What was the Potawatomi Trail of Death?
 What decisions by national and local leaders caused the Trail of Death?
 Who were some of the people involved in the Trail of Death, and what were
their roles?
 How were the Potawatomi Indians treated during the Trail of Death?
 What was Champaign County’s role in the Trail of Death?
List of materials:
 Project Overview Handout
 Website: The Potawatomi Trail of Death Primary and Secondary Sources,
includes:
1. Background Essay: Natalia M. Belting
2. Map of Potawatomi Trail of Death
3. George Winter Painting - “Sketch of General John Tipton” [Plate 58 Cat. #631]
4. George Winter Painting - “Camp in Forest Clearing” [107] (Feest, 101)
5. George Winter Painting - “Wiss-so-gay.” [108] (Feest, 101)
6. George Winter Painting - “Mah-ta-wah-ah. Otch-che-ma” [109] (Feest,
101)
7. George Winter Painting - “Sun-go-waw” [Plate 10 - Cat. #111]
8. George Winter Painting - “Bishop Brute Preaching to ...” [112] (Feest,
103)
9. George Winter Painting - “Emigration Scene” [114] (Feest, 105)
10. George Winter Painting - “Pottawattamie Emigration” [115] (Feest,
105)
11. George Winter Painting - “Line of Mounted Figures” [116] (Feest, 106)
12. George Winter Painting - “Wewissa” (Plate 39)
13. Newspaper Article - Sangamon Journal Sept. 29, 1838. Springfield, IL
14. Newspaper Article - Quincy Whig Oct. 3, 1838. Quincy, IL
15. Photo - Sidney Trail of Death Monument #1 - Mark Foley, 2004
16. Photo - Sidney Trail of Death Monument #2 - Mark Foley, 2004
17. Photo - Sadoris Trail of Death Monument #1 - Mark Foley, 2004
18. Photo - Sadoris Trail of Death Monument #2 - Mark Foley, 2004
 Web Chart for processing of primary sources
 Foley’s Primary Source Analysis Worksheet
 Indian Removal Act Web Chart
 Presentation Rubrics
 Group Feedback Forms
 Test: Native Americans in the US and Illinois
Setting the purpose:
 Student’s prior knowledge will be activated through the background
processing worksheet from the previous lesson. During that lesson, students
were asked what they know about Native Americans in Illinois. During the
discussion of our background knowledge, students were encouraged to
brainstorm what they would like to learn about the Native Americans who
lived in our state.
Analysis of local primary sources:
 Students will use the web chart and the primary source analysis sheets to
analyze journal entries, photographs, newspaper articles from Champaign and
neighboring counties.
Ties to national primary source or sources:
 Students will learn about the ties to the Indian Removal Act in the
introductory essay, which includes links to more information. Students will
also complete an Indian Removal Act graphic organizer.
Assessment:
 What I learned processing worksheet
 Class discussions during reading
 Quiz #1: Native Americans in Illinois: A History and Background
Attachments:
 Graphic Organizers: Trail of Death Sources, and Indian Removal Act effect
 Primary Source Analysis Worksheet