History Connections: Treasure IslandTeacher Tidbits The history of piracy dates back more than 3,000 years, but its accurate account depends on the actual meaning of the word ‘pirate.” It appears that the word pirate (peirato) was first used in about 140 BC by the Roman historian Polybius. Piracy was described for the first time, among others, in Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey. For a great many years there remained no unambiguous definition of piracy and words/phrases like "Danes," "Vikings," "sea thieves" and “outlaws” indicate a similar concept with loosely connected meaning. The first application of international law actually involved anti-pirate legislation. This is due to the fact that most pirate acts were committed outside the borders of any country, but rather at sea.

The mention of the word “pirate” conjures up images of daring swashbucklers, bloodthirsty scoundrels and wicked rogues of the sea. We have been reared on the portrayal of pirates as either improbably romantic and dashing heroes or incorrigible villains. Those who explore the history of piracy are exposed to a much more complex world. While it is true there were several pirates that more than lived up to a reputation for evil, it is also true that we owe a great deal of our history to those very same pirates. During the so-called “Golden Age” of piracy from the mid 18th century - early 19th century, the deeds of many pirates would prove to be invaluable to the development of the United States as an emerging world power.

Other terms that are often confused and misused with regard to piracy are common in the English language. Pirates, corsairs and buccaneers are commonly lumped together as one and the same, although they mean different things. Corsairs were pirates who operated exclusively in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, while buccaneers were actually runaway sailors and deserters who made their way to the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The vast majority of pirates, although not kind, were fair in their treatment of their crew and their captives. In fact, most pirate crews operated under a code of rules and laws referred to as “articles” that were remarkably democratic. Most pirate captains achieved their command by vote. Even though punishments were gruesome and nearly always fatal, they were meted out with a very strict eye for fairness and discipline. Torture was rarely used by any but the most

vicious of pirates, because it was simply pointless. Nobody ever really walked the plank.

In U.S. history, the economic benefit of pirates to the colonial outposts was substantial. The colonial government of North Carolina enjoyed a string of beneficial arrangements with pirates. One of the earliest pirates to enjoy such an amicably profitable arrangement was famed Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard. He was known to have special considerations with the governor of North Carolina allowing him safe passage into Carolinian harbors provided he left English shipping alone.

During the American Revolutionary War, the role of pirates could not be underestimated and one of the first acts of American defiance was an act of piracy: the Boston Tea

Party. During the Revolutionary War (1776 to 1782), the total number of pirating ships outnumbered the ships of the Continental Navy by a factor of eleven to one.

During the War of 1812, one of the most significant battles of that conflict was decided by the deeds of Jean Lafitte active in the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans. When the British became intent on capturing the city of New Orleans in 1812, they tried to bribe Lafitte to aid their cause. Instead, Lafitte went straight to the governor of Louisiana to inform him of the British plan. Lafitte assisted the governor with enough ammunition and supplies that the American artillery was able to maintain a constant bombardment of English forces and prevent them from building any type of fortification or barricade. Lafitte even fought personally, leading

groups of scouts and raiding parties through the swamps and bayous against the British.

In light of all the influence and benefit provided to the fledgling United States during the 18th and 19th centuries on the part of pirates, it is hard to condemn all pirates so thoroughly. It should not be overlooked that many pirates were vicious killers and torturers; men like that should be heroes to no one. But as you see, there were pirates like Jean Lafitte and even to an extent the notorious Blackbeard deserve whose actions earned a little of history’s honor.

Source: www.piratesinfo.com

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History Connections: Treasure IslandActivity: Treasure Map!The influence of Treasure Island on popular perceptions of pirates is enormous, including treasure maps marked with an "X," schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen carrying parrots on their shoulders. A treasure map marks the location of buried treasure, a lost mine, a valuable secret or a hidden locale. More common in fiction than in reality, "pirate treasure maps" are often depicted in works of fiction as hand drawn and containing arcane clues for the characters to follow.

Although buried pirate treasure is a favorite literary theme, there are very few documented cases of pirates actually burying treasure, and no documented cases of a historical pirate treasure map. One documented case of buried treasure involved Francis Duke who buried Spanish gold and silver after raiding the train at Nombre de Dios -- after Drake went to find his ships, he returned six hours later and retrieved the loot and sailed for England. Drake did not create a map. Another case in 1720 involved British Captain Stratton of the Prince Eugene who, after supposedly trading rum with pirates in the Caribbean, buried his gold near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. One of his crew turned him in to the authorities, and it is assumed the loot was recovered. In any case, Captain Stratton was not a pirate, and made no map.

The pirate most responsible for the legends of buried pirate treasure was Captain Kidd (image right). Kidd buried treasure from a plundered ship near Long Island, New York, before being arrested and returned to England where he was put through a very public trial and executed. Although much of Kidd's treasure was recovered from various people who had taken possession of it before Kidd's arrest, such as his wife and various others who were given it for safe keeping. There was so much public interest and fascination with the case at the time, speculation grew that a vast fortune remained and that Kidd had secretly buried it. Captain Kidd did bury a small cache of treasure on Gardiner's Island in a spot known as Cherry Tree Field; however, it was removed by a governor and sent to England to be used as evidence against him. Over the years many people have tried to find the supposed remnants of Kidd's treasure on Gardiner's Island and elsewhere, but none has ever been found.

Materials:• Treasure Island• Paper• Color pencils• Crayons• Coffee or tea

The students will go on a treasure hunt. Provide the students with a map of the school with key features on the map. The map will lead the students to a treasure chest. Inside the treasure chest the children will discover the book Treasure Island. Read the story Treasure Island aloud to students. Introduce new concepts like directions on a map: North, East, South and West, compass rose, legends and keys.

1. Take a piece of nice white paper and rip off all the edges. Don't cut them with scissors, rip and singe them! 2. Crumble the paper up tightly as you can into a ball.3. Flatten the paper out again.4. Draw a X on the map.5. Once the X is drawn label some obstacles on the map ( i.e. mountain ranges, oceans, palm trees, mermaids). 6. Make sure to have a compass rose on the map.7. Provide a key to the map.8. Take a paint brush and brush coffee or tea over the map.9. Lay the map flat to dry.

For older students:Have students create their own treasure map. When students are finished with their treasure maps, have them write directions to their buried treasure.

Source: www.teachers.net

Reflect, Connect, Respond21st Century Learning questions provided by the framework of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) are meant to deepen this theater experience. The questions below are modified from the CDE examples.

Touch Points for KindergartenHistory: What happened yesterday and today, and what might happen tomorrow? Geography: What would it be like to live on a island? On a boat? Economics: What is the difference between a want and a need? Civics: What would it look like to have no rules? Or live like a pirate?

Touch Points for 1st GradeHistory: What are family and cultural traditions during a time when Jim and Long John Silver might have lived and how have they changed over time? Geography: How do people celebrate traditions? Economics: What kinds of jobs are on a ship? Why do they need different jobs? Civics: Why do we have national, community, and local celebrations and holidays? What kinds of holidays and celebrations might have happened aboard a pirate ship?

Touch Points for 2nd GradeHistory: How would the lives of pirates or sailers from the past be similar and different from our lives today? Why is it important to ask questions about the past? Geography: What would it be like to live on a island? On a boat? Economics: How do peoplebalance between wants and needs? How can money help people to meet their wants and needs? Civics: What would it look like to have no rules? Or live like a pirate?

Touch Points for 3rd GradeHistory: How have different groups of people (like pirates and citizens both) lived together and interacted with each other in the past? Geography: How does the geography of where we live influence how we live? Economics: What happens when a producer cannot make enough to meet consumer demand? What would happen if consumers did not want what a producer made? Civics: What would a community be like if individuals from various groups did not respect each other’s rights and views?

Touch Points for 4th GradeHistory: How have past events influenced present day events? Geography: In what ways have geographic changes influenced you today? Economics: Why are different goods and services important at different times in history? Civics: How do diverse opinions enrich a community? How does an individual’s experience and background influence perception of an issue?

Touch Points for 5th GradeHistory: Why is it important to understand the historical context of events? How did historical events and individuals contribute to diversity in the United States? Geography: How have places and regions in the United States been influenced by the physical geography of North America over time? Economics: What influence should government have on the economy and financial institutions? Civics: What What is the most important responsibility of a citizen? How does government meet its responsibility to citizens?

History Connections: Treasure Island