Please use a tablet or desktop computer to use this activity.
This short analysis activity asks students to examine two claims filed by survivors of the April 15, 1912 Titanic disaster to understand the vast class differences between a first class passenger and a steerage passenger.
Students will consider the similarities and differences between these two lives and hypothesize what major differences these documents might imply about the lives of Charlotte Cardeza and Yum Hee.
Students will compare and contrast claims filed by two survivors of the Titanic disaster. These claims were filed as part of a limited liability court case filed by the White Star Line. For grades 6-12. Approximate time needed is 15-20 minutes.
Instructions
This activity is intended as a warm-up or introduction to an exploration of Titanic and/or social class distinctions at the turn of the 20th century.
Present the activity to the entire class. Model careful analysis with students. Ask one half of the students to focus on each primary source document. Tell students to use the arrow and magnifying glass icons in the blue menu bar at the bottom of the document to see details in their document. Instruct students to note details such as the total worth of the items listed, the most expensive item lost by each passenger, and any other items of note. Bring the class back together and have students discuss each individual document.
Note:Inform students that Yum Hee initially calculated the value of his items in British pounds (£) and then used contemporary exchange rate (1 £ = $4.86.) to convert his claim to US Dollars. So, his items were worth 18 £, 14 s, or the equivalent of $91.85.
After this discussion, have students pair off and discuss similarities and differences between the lives of Charlotte Cardeza and Yum Hee in a small group. As they analyze, ask students to infer the lifestyles of Charlotte Cardeza and Yum Hee from just these two documents.
Instruct them to hypothesize what their lives were like before boarding the Titanic, why they were traveling to New York City, what their experience was like on board the Titanic, how their life was changed by the disaster, etc.
Next, discuss the differences between these two Titanic survivors together as a class.
For further information about the featured documents, follow the links below.
To the extent possible under law, National Archives Education Team has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to "Titanic Survivors: One Ship, Two Different Worlds".
