Introduction | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3

Introduction

Developed for the National Gallery of Art by James A. Percoco, U.S. History Teacher, West Springfield High School, Springfield, Virginia

Note to the teacher:
Before implementing any of the following lesson plans teachers should familiarize themselves with the following:

• information on this Web site pertinent to this topic
• consultation of the sources listed in the bibliography
• the motion picture "Glory" and any of the other listed documentaries dealing with the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment

Lesson objectives:

• understand the role of public commemorative sculpture in the United States
• discuss at length the place of Augustus Saint-Gaudens in American cultural history
• utilize various kinds of primary source materials with an understanding of how they help shape and interpret history
• determine the role of the African-American presence in the American Civil War
• understand how all of the arts, including sculpture, music, literature (poetry), and film can serve as catalysts for influencing the public and establishing a historical context
• recognize how certain art forms represent enduring values and become classics
• discuss the importance of public memory in a democratic society