Process Paper:
The first step for my NHD project was selecting a topic. When I was looking for a topic, I really wanted to do a local topic that sounded interesting. I had about three ideas for local topics. My partner also wanted to do a local topic and then when we looked through each of our topics that we wanted to do, we agreed on the “State of Jefferson”. We both thought that it sounded interesting and neither of us had ever heard about it before. Finally, we wanted to look more into “The State of Jefferson”.
We had first started exploring the internet for secondary sources so that we could find out how the “State of Jefferson” happened. For example, we found some information from stateofjefferson.com that told us about how the “State of Jefferson” was going to free itself from obnoxious taxes of California. Another secondary source that we found was ijpr.org (Jefferson Public Radio). It told us about the history of the “State of Jefferson.” It also has a video, that has people today talking about how the state got started and shows things that the people do today with the state. We got two primary sources. They were from the Humboldt Historical Society and they were both articles. One article was about how Humboldt did want be in the “State of Jefferson”. The second article was about how people now wanted to name themselves the “Upstate California” and also wanted a different name for the state.
My partner and I had thought that a website was just right for us because we wanted be more technologically advanced and have fun in making a website. Then, we typed our thesis that stated the importance of our topic. We included research, pictures, timeline, and video clips. My partner and I had decided to name our project “A Little Rebellion Now and Then is a Good Thing”: Standing Up for The State of Jefferson”. When we had to design the website, we wanted something that looked modern, and also easy to look for a certain topic. Each page would have a specific topic. There were pictures that had something to do with the topic. Each photo had to either be a source from 1941 about the state of Jefferson, Pictures of the men that had made this movement happen. A timeline that was placed on the very first page was made.
The theme for the National History Day competition this year is Taking a Stand. Our topic goes with the theme because a group of men tried to start the State of Jefferson. Members took a stand by creating a proclamation to create the State of Jefferson between Northern and Southern California. Proponents felt that there was an unequal distribution of money and services between Northern and Southern California. My history day topic is still important today because if they didn’t take a stand, Northern California would not have the paved roads that we have today.
We had first started exploring the internet for secondary sources so that we could find out how the “State of Jefferson” happened. For example, we found some information from stateofjefferson.com that told us about how the “State of Jefferson” was going to free itself from obnoxious taxes of California. Another secondary source that we found was ijpr.org (Jefferson Public Radio). It told us about the history of the “State of Jefferson.” It also has a video, that has people today talking about how the state got started and shows things that the people do today with the state. We got two primary sources. They were from the Humboldt Historical Society and they were both articles. One article was about how Humboldt did want be in the “State of Jefferson”. The second article was about how people now wanted to name themselves the “Upstate California” and also wanted a different name for the state.
My partner and I had thought that a website was just right for us because we wanted be more technologically advanced and have fun in making a website. Then, we typed our thesis that stated the importance of our topic. We included research, pictures, timeline, and video clips. My partner and I had decided to name our project “A Little Rebellion Now and Then is a Good Thing”: Standing Up for The State of Jefferson”. When we had to design the website, we wanted something that looked modern, and also easy to look for a certain topic. Each page would have a specific topic. There were pictures that had something to do with the topic. Each photo had to either be a source from 1941 about the state of Jefferson, Pictures of the men that had made this movement happen. A timeline that was placed on the very first page was made.
The theme for the National History Day competition this year is Taking a Stand. Our topic goes with the theme because a group of men tried to start the State of Jefferson. Members took a stand by creating a proclamation to create the State of Jefferson between Northern and Southern California. Proponents felt that there was an unequal distribution of money and services between Northern and Southern California. My history day topic is still important today because if they didn’t take a stand, Northern California would not have the paved roads that we have today.