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Lesson Title: Hatfield-McCoy Property Line Feud: GPS to the Rescue?

Grade Levels: 7 12

Prior Knowledge: Introduction to and use of GPS

Learning Strategies:

1. Use of inquiry* process skills to design a GPS investigation2. Integration of mathematics, science, literacy, map skills and technology3. Application of problem-solving skills to resolve a real world question4. Use cooperative learning (pairs, small group and class) dialogue to enhance learning

*Inquiry-based instruction often uses a 5-E learning cycle (engage, explore, explain, elaborateand evaluate) and allows students to design and then implement an investigation to answer aspecific question. The following lesson is designed under the premise of being shared with

students in segments based upon need for assistance during their problem-solving attempts.

Engage Phase

(Read the following to students)

Hatfield-McCoy FeudThe Hatfield-McCoy feud (1878 1891) is an account of American folklore that has become ametaphor for bitterly feuding rival parties. It involved two warring families of the West Virginia-Kentucky backcountry along the Tug Fork River. The McCoys lived mostly on the Kentuckyside of Tug Fork and the Hatfields lived mostly on the West Virginia side. Both families were

part of the first wave of pioneers to settle the Tug Valley. The majority of the Hatfields foughtfor the Confederacy in the American Civil War. The majority of the McCoys living in PikeCounty Kentucky fought for the Union army. The Hatfields were more affluent than the McCoysand were well-connected politically.

Feud Begins:" Most people believe that the Hatfield-McCoy feud began with the death of Asa Harman McCoyon January 7, 1865. " The uncle of Devil Anse Hatfield, Jim Vance, despised Asa HarmonMcCoy because he had joined the Union army during the American Civil War. Harman had

been discharged from the army early because of a broken leg; several nights after he returnedhome, he was murdered in a nearby cave.

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The second recorded instance of violence in the feud occurred after an 1878 dispute about theownership of a hog: Floyd Hatfield had it and Randolph McCoy said it was his. The pig was onlyin the fight because some of the Hatfields believed that since the pig was on their land, thatmeant it was theirs; some of the McCoys objected saying the " notches " in the pigs ears wereMcCoy marks, and not Hatfield marks. The matter was taken to the local Justice of the Peace,

and the McCoys lost. The individual presiding over the case was Anderson"Preacher Anse

" Hatfield. In June 1880 Staton Hatfield was killed by two McCoy brothers, Sam and Paris, who

were later acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.

E scalation:

The feud escalated after Roseanna McCoy began a romantic relationship with Johnse Hatfield,leaving her family to live with the Hatfields in West Virginia. Roseanna eventually returned tothe McCoys, but when the couple tried to resume their relationship, Johnse Hatfield was arrested

by the McCoys on outstanding Kentucky bootlegging warrants. He was freed from McCoycustody only when Roseanna made a desperate midnight ride to alert Devil Anse Hatfield, who

organized a rescue party. The Hatfield party surrounded the McCoys and took Johnse back toWest Virginia before he could be transported to the county seat for justice the next day. Despitewhat was seen as a betrayal of her family on his behalf, Johnse thereafter abandoned Roseanna,marrying instead her cousin Nancy McCoy in 1881.

The escalation continued in 1882 when Ellison Hatfield was killed by three of RoseannaMcCoy's young brothers. The McCoy brothers were murdered in turn as the vendetta escalated.The escalation reached its peak during the 1888 New Years Night Massacre. Several of theHatfield gang surrounded the McCoy cabin and opened fire on the sleeping family.

Between 1880 and 1891, the feud claimed more than a dozen members of the two families,

becoming headline news around the country, and compelling the governors of both Kentuckyand West Virginia to call up their state militias to restore order. The Governor of West Virginiathreatened to have his militia invade Kentucky. The Kentucky Governor in response sent hisAdjutant General to Pike County to investigate the situation. In 1888, Wall Hatfield and eightothers were arrested by a posse led by Frank Phillips, and brought to Kentucky to stand trial for the murder of Alifair McCoy who was killed during the New Years Massacre. Because of issuesof due process and illegal extradition, the United States Supreme Court became involved. TheSupreme Court ruled in favor of Kentucky. Eventually the men were tried in Kentucky and allwere found guilty.

The feud ends:

The families finally agreed to stop the fighting in 1891. The trial of Johnse Hatfield was the lastof the feud trials. It took place in 1901.

In 1979, the two families united for a special week's taping of the popular game show Family Feud , in which they played for a cash prize and a pig which was kept on stage during the games.

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O n June 14, 2003, on the initiative of Reo Hatfield, an actual peace treaty was drawn up andsigned in Pikeville by representatives of the two families, even though the feud had ended over acentury before. The idea was symbolic: to show that Americans could bury their differences andunite in times of crisis.

TourismMany tourists each year travel to parts of West Virginia and Kentucky to see the areas andhistoric relics which remain from the days of the feud. In 2004 a large project known as the" Hatfield and McCoy Historic Site Restoration " was completed.

Think-Pair-Share: Have students record their individual

answers in journals to the following questions. Pair with a

partner to share your responses and then share with the class.

Questions:

1. Use a T-Chart to organize your descriptions of what isand what is not a feud.

2. Describe another example of a feud over possession of

land between two countries or groups of people. 3. What is the meaning of the word metaphor?

In the passage about the Hatfield-McCoy Feud that was

read to you it stated: The Hatfield-McCoy feud (1878 1891) is anaccount of American folklore that has become a metaphor for bitterly feuding rival

parties

4. Can you give another example of a metaphor?

(Read the following to students)

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1. Based upon prior knowledge of working with GPS units each student will individuallyrecord in his/her journal the list of steps on how to use a GPS unit to locate the

North/South property line.2. Pair with another student and explain your investigation design.3. With your partner agree on an investigation design and if revisions in your design were

made, then record the revised design in your journal.

(Read the following to students)

Now that you and your partner have agreed on an investigation design we need to give somethought to the accuracy of our GPS readings. Accuracy is very important in ending this feud.Does our GPS unit provide any information on the accuracy of the data? (Class Discussion)

Continued Discussion Questions:

1. How accurately do you think your investigation design will be in determining a specificdistance from a given point?

2. Explain your reasoning.3. Are there any places outside near our school which are flat and have pre-measured

distances already marked?

Suggestion for Teacher:

Previous discussion may have students suggesting a football field or soccer field. If thesefields are not readily accessible, then an area could be measured to allow students to test their investigation designs.

Student Pairs Implement Investigation Design:

Based upon the amount of space available it may be necessary to assign a distance smaller thanthe 20 chains to mark due west of a given point. The rationale of providing each pair of studentswith three marking flags is for the first flag to be placed on the north/south line (20 chains duewest from the given starting point), the second flag would be placed any distance due north of flag 1 and the third flag would be placed any distance due south of flag 1. This would placethree flags on the north/south property line.

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Explain Phase The explain segment of the inquiry cycle is integrated throughout the lesson beginning withstudent journal entries and discussion times when they are explaining their rationale to questions

and investigation designs. Teacher explanations are also important, but should guide students toclarify their thinking rather than providing the answer.

Elaborate Phase Following the completion of the investigation, recording student pair data and sharing data fromthe class, then each student will individually make journal entries to reflect on their investigationdesign and designs used by other student pairs. Reflections may include thoughts on their,

accuracy (similarities or differences of results reported by other student pairs) and future designmodifications or investigations applications. Teacher summary of learning is vital at this point.

Evaluation Phase Evaluation is on-going throughout the lesson. Journal entry, class discussion, investigationdesign during this problem-solving and effective use of the GPS unit will provide teacher withopportunities to assess the quality of the learning taking place.

Suggestion for Teacher:

This lesson may be enhanced by obtaining a legal description and maps from property near theschool to design and implement this investigation.