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Introductory Commentary

Follow the links to view and hear the commentary for the introduction and unit segments. Depending on the speed of your internet provider, you may need to wait a few moments for the audio portions to fully load.  Each unit commentary lasts approximately ten to fifteen minutes. (The audio for these introductory units work best if you open them in QuickTime. For a free downloadable version, "google" QuickTime.)

Course Introduction   View this introductory commentary first. 

Unit 1: Geography and Early Inhabitants   View, complete readings, and respond to discussion board.

Unit 2: Settling In  View, complete readings, and respond to discussion board.

Unit 3: Newcomers from Everywhere   View, complete readings, and respond to discussio board.

Unit 4: Statehood and State Institutions  View, complete readings, and respond to discussion board.

Unit 5: How's the Weather?  A Look at North Dakota's Climate  View, complete readings, and respond to discussion board.

Unit 6: Life in the Fast Lane: Transportation from Ox Cart Trails to Highways  View, complete readings, and respond to discussion board.

Unit 7: Agriculture, Politics, and the State-owned Elevator View, complete readings, and respond to discussion board.

 

Unit Readings

Follow the links to download the articles for each unit of study.

Unit 1: Geography and Early Inhabitants.

  1. Darrel G. H. Schramm, "The Past Caught in the Present: Observations of Mineral and Plant by Lewis and Clark, Catlin, and Schramm," North Dakota History 67 (Spring 2000): 16-25.
  2. Keith Kohl, "The Bakken Oil Formation: Banking on this New Canadian Oil Play," Energy and Capital, 18 December 2007.
  3. Ibid., "Bakken Oil Production: Increasing Interest in the Bakken's Production...and a Substantial Opportunity for Investors," 7 February 2008.
  4. Roy W. Meyer, "The Fort Berthold Reservation: The Land and the People," North Dakota History 35 (Summer and Fall 1968): 223-238.
  5. Ibid., "Adjusting to the New Situation": 309-328.

Unit 2: Settling In

     Reading from Rachel Calof's Story.

Unit 3: Newcomers from Everywhere

     Reading from Rachel Calof's Story.

     1. The Pearson Girls memoir excerpt part one.

     2. The Pearson Girls memoir excerpt part two.

Unit 4: Statehood and State Institutions

     Reading from The Legacy of North Dakota's Country Schools.

Unit 5: How's the Weather? A Look at North Dakota's Climate

     Reading from The Legacy of North Dakota's Country Schools.

     1. "100th Anniversary Chautauqua, 1993."

     2.  map from "100th Anniversary Chautauqua," pp.16-17

Unit 6: Life in the Fast Lane: Transportation from Ox Cart Trails to Highways

     DVD: The Old Red Trail

Unit 7: Agriculture, Politics, and the State-owned Elevator

     Reading from Unwanted Bread