Document 1 Assignment

3. Assignment 1
“Exhibit A” is taken from a court case involving an insurance claim from losses incurred
by the sinking a steamboat “U.S. Don Cameron” May 18, 1877.
1. Create a profile of the owner of the goods listed in Exhibit A.
2. What do the items say about class structure in 1877?
3. What does the list say about the purpose of going to Montana?
Benchmark 5: The student engages in historical thinking skills.
▲ (A) uses primary and secondary sources about an event in U.S. history to develop a
credible interpretation of the event, evaluating on its meaning (e.g., uses provided
primary and secondary sources to interpret a historical-based conclusion).
This is an excerpt from a larger document found in the National Archives Midwest
Region Kansas City, Missouri.
Hathaway et al. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company 1879

4. Assignment 2
Location: On the map below trace the charted river course to be taken by the US Don
Cameron according to the excerpt below. Use a blue marking device. Draw and label all
river names on the route.
Name: J. DON CAMERON
Type: Stern-wheeler
Launched: 1877, May, Jeffersonville, Ind. @ Barrymore Boat Yard,
Destroyed: 1877, May 17, on first trip. No lives lost. Boat and
cargo a total loss. Several lawsuits came from this disaster.
Area: Mo. R.
Owner: U.S.
Comments: Boat was built for the government for the
Yellowstone R. and had no Mo. R. pilot aboard while she
was transporting baggage and private property for the
Fifth Infantry from Fort Levenworth Ks. to Fort Keogh on
the Yellowstone R.
http://www.riverboatdaves.com/riverboats/j.html#JCAME (source)

5. Questions for discussion:
1) What major events occurred in the region near the time the US Don Cameron
Sank?
2) What year was Fort Keogh built?
3) Why was it named Fort Keogh?
4) What might be the reason for the construction of the fort?
Benchmark 5: The student engages in historical thinking skills.
▲ (A) uses primary and secondary sources about an event in U.S. history to develop a
credible interpretation of the event, evaluating on its meaning (e.g., uses provided
primary and secondary sources to interpret a historical-based conclusion).