On Technology and Lincoln...

As I was completing the reading, I couldn't help but think of just how modern of a president Lincoln was. You could compare his dedication to the war effort, and his determination to play and active role and be informed to our more recent presidents. It brought to mind the images of President Bush meeting with generals from Afghanistan and Iraq, and it also brought to mind the recent image of President Obama sitting with members of his Cabinet around a TV watching the events of Osama Bin Laden's capture and death unfold. Lincoln was definitely innovative, being the "only president to hold a patent." His experiences with the development and progress of the railroad, or "iron horse", show just how in tune he was with technology. He spent more hours in the telegraph office than anywhere else during the Civil War, and he was determined to learn the skills necessary to use it himself. Most news travelled by messengers on horseback, which delayed any action on the front lines. Once the telegraph came into play, the troops could move quickly, and the War Department could gain the necessary information to keep things working in their favor. The entire outcome of the war, as well as Lincoln's presidency was affected by the telegraph. I can't really think of a downside to having the telegraph, other than having information leak, which we learned was not a problem during its early years. Lincoln was definitely the first modern president, and one who helped bring about progress in America.

Follow up:
I think our groups instructional idea to teach how the telegraph revolutionized war, and changed how troops fought and how they moved is a great pedagogical idea. I think you can compare and contrast the Civil War to prior wars, such as the Revolutionary War, and get students to think critically about how the telegraph impacted the changes that took place. You can give examples of how the telegraph helped the president execute commands quickly, and get word to people on the field quickly. You can have the students analyze telegrams relating directly to battlefield events and discuss how the telegraph influenced the situation. You can then hold a class discussion about the impact of the telegraph and about changes in warfare. Having the students work in groups and answer questions about a particular telegram sent during the war is a good way to assess their learning of the material and to see how well they understand the changes that took place between the Civil War and previous wars.