Spies in Disguise:

Female Civil War Spies

A Webquest

by

Carolyn Tarpey and Susan Payne

Introduction

Spies are important sources of information in any war and the best ones are people you would never suspect.  Throughout history, women have been spies and the American Civil War was no exception. Whether they dressed as men and joined the army, posed as dimwitted slaves, or just kept their ears open in social circles, female spies provided critical information.  It was a woman spy who provided Union battle plans to Confederate Army which allowed them to win the First Battle of Manassass (also known as First Bull Run).

Task:

Your task is to present a 2-4 minute videotaped news feature story detailing the life of one female Civil War spy and explaining why they have been inducted into a fictional American Women's Hall of Fame.  Included in this story will be a re-creation of a specific scene in this woman's life.  Here is an overview of the major steps involved:

1. Research the life of one Civil War spy and then meet as a group to combine your information.

2. Assign roles for all the members in your group: a director, an anchor, and actors, and then write the scripts and Powerpoint presentation for the news story.

3. Videotape the news story.

4. View and evaluation your newscast and others from your class.

Resources

In addition to any print or electronic resources available in the classroom and library, the following sources may be helpful to you.  YOUR GROUP IS REQUIRED TO USE AT LEAST 2 INTERNET SOURCES AND 2 OTHER TYPES OF SOURCES.  (You certainly may use more!)

Mary Elizabeth Bowser

· Women in History

· Outlaw Women

· Spy

Belle Boyd

· Women in History

· Women in War Who Were Spies

· Belle Boyd House

· Civil War Biographies - Belle Boyd

· Intriguing Historical Ladies

Pauline Cushman

• Biography of Pauline Cushman
• Cowgirls
• Thrilling Adventures of a Lady in Secret Service

Emma Edmonds

• Spy Fact of the Day
• EMMA
• Spy

Rosie O'neal Greenhow

• Rosie O'neal Greenhow Papers
• Intriguing Historical Ladies
• Rosie O'neal Greenhow - Civil War Woman

Elizabeth Van Lew

• Civil War Biographies - Elizabeth Van Lew
• Women of the War
• Women in War Who Were Spies

Process

The following is a step-by-step guide on how to accomplish your task!

1. Form groups of 4-5 students and choose a spy  (may be assigned)
2. Begin researching by finding available resources (Internet, print, electronic, etc....) and deciding which group member will look at each. (Suggestion:  Have 2-3 people explore Internet sites and 2-3 people use library resources)
3. Each group member completes the Individual Knowledge Worksheet - One page for each source. REMBEMBER TO WRITE DOWN COMPLETE SOURCE INFORMATION FOR EACH SITE/BOOK/ETC.....!)
4. Meet as a group, share all information gathered and complete the Group Knowledge Worksheet (Each member of the group should have identical copies)  Also, compile the Group Sources Worksheet (as many pages as you need!).
5. Choose group roles
• Anchor -
1. Works with the director to write a script providing background information
2. Works with director to create Power Point Presentation to show on screen behind anchor
3. Reads script ON AIR
• Director-
1. Works with the anchor to write a script providing background information
2. Works with anchor to create Power Point Presentation to show on screen behind anchor
3. Runs camera and controls Power Point presentation
• Actors/Screenwriters
1. Together, choose a scene to reenact for the newscast, based on the information found during research
2. Write a script for the 2+ minute reenactment
3. Choose a role or roles each actor will play  **Effort should be made to ensure actors have equqal parts**
6. Group rehearses newscast several times and revises scripts to fit time limit
7. Show Time!
8. Class views all presentations and completes Peer Evaluation Sheets and Self Evaluation Sheet.
9. Groups turn in following items to teacher:
• All Individual Knowledge Worksheets
• All Group Knowledge Worksheets
• Scripts for anchor and actors
• Self-evaluation sheets

Evaluation

Students and their groups will be evaluated by themselves, the teacher, and their classmates.  A total of 60 points are possible. 

• Teacher and Self Evaluation Sheets (24 points from teacher evaluation / 24 points from self evaluation)
• Peer Evaluation Sheets (12 points from average of peer evaluations)

Conclusion 

After discovering just one role women played during the Civil War, do you believe women were important?  What other important roles did women play during the Civil War?  Have women played important roles in other wars? (Just who is Rosie the Riveter?) )

Created July 31, 1998  

by Susan Payne and Carolyn Tarpey,

Last Updated February by Trisha Armstrong