Differing Perspectives on Five Points: Insider vs. Outsider

Goals:

Aim

Through examining several primary and secondary historical sources, students will understand opposing viewpoints concerning the Five Points region of NYC in the 19th century.

At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain how and why the Five Points neighborhood was seen as a different place to people living inside the neighborhood and those living inside the neighborhood, especially African Americans.
• Explain how the unique nature of the Five Points neighborhood allowed for building free African American social and economic institutions.

Essential Questions:

• How did free African Americans contribute to the building of New York?
• How did the unique social and economic fabric of New York contribute to the building of African American social and economic institutions?