The 54th Massachusetts
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All four include an image, vocabulary, comprehension questions, a follow-up reading, and teacher guidance. These English PDFs have selectable text; use the reading below for adjustable text and listening tools.
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Words to know
- service
- work done to help others
- equality
- having equal rights or standing
- courage
- acting even when something is difficult or frightening
The 54th Massachusetts was an early Black regiment raised in the North during the Civil War. Soldiers fought for the Union while facing unequal treatment. Their service challenged racist claims about Black courage.
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What happened? Point to a detail that supports your answer. What does the picture help you understand? What would you like to investigate next?
Follow-up: A telephone carries speech
Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson worked in Boston on carrying speech by wire. In March 1876, Watson heard Bell’s spoken request through an experimental telephone. Communication was changing.
How are the two events connected or different? Their order does not prove that one caused the other.
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Check the evidence
Research source for this event ↗
Massachusetts Historical Society / National Park Service Image source and rights ↗
Historical images, later portraits, reconstructions, and modern topic illustrations are identified in their captions. They are different kinds of evidence.
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