The map “Historical Geography” by John F. Smith was created during a time of intense national conflict over the issue of slavery in the United States. The map visually represents the ideological divide between the Northern states, which are labeled as representing “God’s Blessing Liberty,” and the Southern states, labeled as “God’s Curse Slavery.” It uses colors, lines, and labels to convey a strong message about the moral and political battle over slavery.
Historical Context
During the mid-19th century, the United States was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. The Mason-Dixon Line, depicted prominently in the map, was commonly regarded as the boundary between the free states of the North and the slave states of the South. This map is an example of how visual media was used to influence public opinion and shape the national debate over slavery.
By engaging with this map, students will develop their ability to critically analyze primary sources, understand historical perspectives, and appreciate the role of visual media in historical discourse. More background on the map and the era here
Guiding questions:
•What symbols, colors, and lines are used in the map?
•What messages are conveyed through these elements?
•How do the map’s design and content reflect the author’s viewpoint on liberty and slavery?
•Encourage students to think about who the intended audience might have been and what the map’s purpose was.
•How does the “Historical Geography” map reflect the historical tensions between the North and South?
•Evaluate the effectiveness of the map in persuading its audience about the issues of liberty and slavery.
•Compare this map to another historical artifact from the same period and discuss how both reflect the ideological battles of the time.
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Your More background on the map and the era here is very helpful to get a full understanding of the time period, the political climate in the country and the purpose of the map. Thanks, 
Peter Pappas
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This map also lends itself to a vocabulary activity for Language Arts classrooms.
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