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Archives and Records - Catholic Northwest History Curriculum
Lesson Plan: Whitman Massacre
 

Whitman Massacre
Lesson Plan X.A1b

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Ecumenism:  19th Century

Grades: 6-12
Suggested time frame: 3 50-minute periods

Introduction | Important Learnings | Student Activities/Assessments | Teacher Activities
Related Topics | Word Study | Materials and Resources | Sources 
Assessing the Reliability of Resource Materials

Introduction

The purpose of this lesson plan is to enable students to understand the challenges facing the Catholic missionaries in the Pacific Northwest. The 19th century not only saw the rise of Catholic missionaries, but also an increase in missionaries of other denominations, a number which were concentrated along the Walla Walla River. The demand for land and quest for converts resulted in conflict between the Catholic and Protestant missionaries. These conflicts came to a turning point in November 1847. On November 29th, the Cayuse Indians attacked the settlement of Waiilatpu and killed 14 members of the mission, including Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa. Nearly 50 women and children were also taken prisoner. During the following days, Catholic involvement in burying the dead and attempting reconciliation caused misunderstandings between the survivors and Catholic missionaries. In subsequent years, the Whitman Massacre became a focus of anti-Catholic sentiment in the Northwest.  

Important Learnings

  • The role of the Protestant and Catholic missionaries in the Pacific Northwest 
  • The relationship between the Native Americans and missionaries in the mid 19th century
  • The different denominational views of the conversion process
  • The roles of Dr. Marcus Whitman, Henry Spalding, and Rev. J.B.A. Brouillet in the Whitman Massacre

Student Activities/Assessments
(independent or group)

  • Create a map showing the locations of Catholic and Protestant missions 
  • Write a report on Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa
  • Draw a plan of an early mission complex
  • Outline and discuss 5 differences between Catholic and Protestant missionary styles
  • Write a report on Fr. Brouillet's role in the Whitman Massacre
  • Role play the responses of a Catholic Missionary, a Protestant Missionary and a Native American dealing with a historically relevant issue

Teacher Activities

  • Gather materials relating to the work of the American Board Missionaries in the Northwest

Related Topics

  • The Diocese of Walla Walla
  • The Cayuse Tribe
  • Indian uprisings in Washington Territory

Word Study

  • American Board Missions 
  • Massacre
  • Methodist 
  • Protestant
  • Waiilaptu

Materials and Resources

  • Archives of the Archdiocese of Seattle, (206) 382-4352
  • The Catholic Northwest Progress
  • Schoenberg, Wilfred P., S.J., A History of the Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest 1743-1983, Washington, DC: Pastoral Press, 1987, pp. 110-117 
  • Buerge, David M. & Rochester, Junius, Roots and Branches: The Religious Heritage of Washington State, Church Council of Greater Seattle, 1988, pp. 68-71
  • any Catholic encyclopedia 
  • any Catholic dictionary

Sources
Electronic versions of primary sources can be downloaded in Portable Document Format (.PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader to view the files. If you do not have it installed on your computer, you can download the software from the Adobe website.

Archives of the Archdiocese of Seattle

Assessing the Reliability of Resource Materials

  • By whom was it created?
  • For whom or what was it created for?
  • Does the creator have first hand knowledge of the subject? How does this affect the data recorded?
  • Did the creator of the document have an interest in recording accurate information?
  • Is this a primary source? Secondary source?