COMMERCE IN NAUVOO 1839-1846 (THE MORMON PERIOD)

Joan M. Longmire, with the help of Patty Anthony, Douglas Braaadley,
Mary Ann Kurke, Glen Weatherwax, and Fred Willman
Illinois Geographic Alliance Summer Geography Institute, 1995

Preview of Main Ideas

In this activity students will learn about the types of businesses in Nauvoo during the years that the Mormons settled and developed the town as their religious center. They will learn what types of businesses there were in the rapidly growing community along the Mississippi River and from where they obtained their goods to trade. They will study the technology of the era to understand the differences between life in the 1840s and today.

Connection with the Curriculum

This activity can be used in the study of American or Illinois history or in a social studies or geography class looking at technology in that era and its effects on commerce and trade.

Teaching Level: Grades 5-8

Objectives Classification Outline (Also see objectives classification matrix below.)

Objective #1: The student will be able to analyze and describe commerce in Nauvoo, Illinois, in the 1840s.

Essential Element: The Uses of Geography

Standard #17: How to apply geography to interpret the past.

Knowledge Statement #3: How geographic contexts have influenced events and conditions in the past.

Skill Set #4: Analyzing geographic information.

Skill #3: Interpret and synthesize information obtained from a variety of sources: graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, texts, photographs, documents, interviews.

Theme: Place.

Objective #2: The student will be able to analyze the influence of technology on the trade and commerce of Nauvoo, Illinois, from 1839 to 1846.

Essential Element: The Uses of Geography.

Standard #17: How to apply geography to interpret the past.

Knowledge Statement #3: How geographic contexts have influenced events and conditions in the past.

Skill Set #3: Organizing geographic information.

Skill #1: Prepare various forms of maps as a means of organizing geographic information.

Skill Set #4: Analyzing geographic information.

Skill #1: Interpret information obtained from maps, aerial photographs, satellite-produced images, and geographic information systems.

Theme: Movement.

Materials

1.      Attached handout.

2.      United States outline map.

3.      Atlas or United States wall map.

4.      Encyclopedias and books on the history of the Mormons of Illinois.

5.      Postcards, photos, booklets, and possible interviews obtained by visiting Nauvoo or writing to Nauvoo Tourism, P.O. Box 41, Nauvoo, IL 63454.

Suggestions for Teaching the Lesson

Opening the Lesson

1.      Read to the students a condensed version of the history of the Mormon settlement in Nauvoo.

2.      Organza the students into cooperative groups. Have them brainstorm a list of businesses that would be needed in Nauvoo from 1839 to 1846. Remind students that this settlement took place about 150 years ago, and they must consider that the technology of the period was not like it is today.

Developing the Lesson

1.      Have students define on their own paper the following terms as applied to the time period 1839-1846: arsenal, blacksmith, carriage, cobbler, coach (for transportation), commerce, cooper, glazier, gunsmith, joiner, miller, printer, spinning, quilting, stable, tanner, trek, wagon, wainwright, weaving, wheelwright.

2.      In their cooperative groups, students compare the brainstormed list to the list on the handout. Students can refer to a textbook on the period of time, postcards, pamphlets, photographs, and other materials to help them better understand this historical period.

3.      As a whole class, discuss what businesses might be in Nauvoo that were not listed on the handout. Teacher needs to make sure those businesses are for the correct period in history. Next discuss what resources these businesses would need such as grain, leather, wood, metals, cloth. Which of these resources needed would come from the local area? Which of the resources would need to be brought from other more distant cities, states, or countries? By what means of transportation would these resources be brought to Nauvoo? Why?

4         Have the students create a map showing where the goods and raw materials came from as indicated on the handout. Then have then write a paragraph explaining how the technology of travel during the time period influenced the trade patterns shown on the map.

Concluding the Lesson

Each student should write a letter to a hypothetical Mormon relative in the British Isles dated February 1, 1843, in which they try to persuade that relative to move his or her family to Nauvoo. In the letter the student is to tell about the commerce of the city and the means of transportation and route the relatives should take to get to Nauvoo.

Extending the Lesson

1.      Recreate historic Nauvoo in the classroom. Have students research different types of businesses of the time (blacksmith, wainwright, tinsmith, gunsmith, general store, stables, hotel, bakery, brick maker, and the like) and set up stations in the classroom where they will explain their businesses. Invite other classes to visit their enactment of historic Nauvoo.

2.      Conduct a discussion about the types of businesses that existed in Nauvoo in the 1840's that no longer exist today. Ask why these businesses no longer exist. What changes in technology made these businesses obsolete?

Assessing Student Learning

1.      Test students on their knowledge of vocabulary concerning the businesses of the time period.

2.      Assess their knowledge shown in the letter they have written in the lesson conclusion.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the Nauvoo Chamber of Commerce, the Nauvoo Historical Society, the Joseph Smith Historic Center (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and the LDS Visitor Center (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS CLASSIFICATION MATRIX – GRADES   5-8 

Title:  Commerce in Nauvoo 1839-1846 (The Mormon Period) Author:  Joan M. Longmire, et. al.

Note:  See also Objectives Classification Outline in the lesson.

Handouts

Handout A

Commerce & Occupations in Nauvoo 1839-1846

1.    Mansion House Hotel.

2.    The Printing Office.

3.    The Post Office.

4.    Scovil Bakery.

5.    Log Cabin School.

6.    Webb Wagon and Blacksmith Shop.

7.    Missionary training (Seventies Hall).

8.    Locksmith.

9.    Jonathan Browning, Gunsmith (metal from Pittsburgh & St. Louis).

10.    Tin shop.

11.    Lyon Drug and Variety Store (goods from West Indies, Nova Scotia, St. Louis, New Orleans, etc.)

12.    Doctor Calvin Crane Pendleton (herbal medicine, etc.)

13.    General storews (goods from St. Louis, New Orleans, Cleveland, Cincinnati, etc.)

14.    Architect.

15.    Brick making.

16.    Carpenter (wood from Wisconsin).

17.    Cooper.

18.    Wainwright.

19.    Glazier.

20.    Painter

21.    Cobbler Shop.

22.    Pottery Shop.

23.    Match and powder factory.

24.    Riverboat Main of Iowa--Mormon boat.

25.    Mechanics.

26.    Grain mills (grain from local farmers).

27.    Butcher.

28.    Saddle maker.

29.    Rope maker.

30.    Tanner.

Note:    There may have been other commercial ventures in Nauvoo.  These are the ones mentioned in the literature obtained on a field trip.

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