BOUNDARY CONFLICTS: A TEACHING STRATEGY

Main Ideas
The following lesson reveals how the absolute and relative locations of Illinois political boundaries have changed over time. Students will identify and analyze conflicts that have occurred along the external boundary of Illinois. Cooperative learning will be implemented as students engage in a conflict resolution activity.

Connection with the Curriculum
"Location" and the activities contained in the accompanying lesson plan are appropriate for use in social studies classes. We especially recommend their use in the study of geography, United States and Illinois history, political science, and economics.

Teaching Level
Grades 8-12

Materials for Each Student

• A copy of the content portion of this article.

• A copy of each Illinois map accompanying this article.

• An atlas or road map depicting Illinois and neighboring states.

• Handouts 1 through 4.

Objectives for Each Student

• Determine the absolute location of the extremes of Illinois.

• Recognize the changing relative location of Illinois boundaries.

• Understand how historical events have contributed to the present size and shape of Illinois.

• Understand and analyze how Illinois' relative location to bordering states has resulted in conflicts with them over time.

• Develop a historical perspective to facilitate preparation of a proposal that might help resolve present conflict and prevent future wrangling.

Opening the Lesson
• Distribute Handout 1 — Size and Boundaries of Illinois — and instruct students to answer the questions by observing the map that accompanies this article and an atlas.

• Distribute Handout 2 — Conflict around the State — and instruct students to complete it by referring to the content portion of this article. Discuss student responses. Answers will vary.

Developing the Lesson

Beginning the Group Activity
Explain to students that they will be representing Illinois or one of six bordering states. The purpose of this group activity is for students to recognize past and present conflict and develop arguments on behalf of their assigned state as well as a specific proposal that could help prevent future conflict. These proposals will go before a panel of seven students consisting of a representative from each state.

• Establish groups by dividing students into seven teams. Each group will represent a particular state.

• Distribute Handout 3 — State Scenarios — which contains information that will be helpful for students in recognizing conflict and in preparing their proposals. All groups receive all scenarios.

• Distribute Handout 4 — KIMWIMI (Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois) Convention. Please note that the Illinois representatives will have to develop and direct their comments in a general fashion toward all the bordering states.

• Students work on proposals, referring to content part of article.

Presentation of Proposals
• Instruct each group to select one student to represent their state on the Panel of Seven. This student will present his or her group's proposal to the panel. It would be appropriate for the Illinois representative to chair the proceedings. The Illinois representative should begin the proceedings by providing a general overview of the KIMWIMI Convention and then call for each state to present its proposal.

Deliberation by Panel of Seven
• After hearing the proposals, the panel will deliberate in open forum, caucus privately, and announce recommendations.

• Class members not serving on the panel should listen to proposals and take notes during the open forum. These individuals should return to their state groups during the panel caucus, discuss panel deliberations, predict panel recommendations, and be prepared to react to the panel of seven recommendation.

Concluding the Lesson
Announcement of Panel Recommendations.

• The panel chair presents the recommendations to the class.

Engagement of Class in Discussion.

• The class has an opportunity to question and challenge panel recommendations.

• The class engages in general discussion about the nature of conflict among Illinois and bordering states by focusing on geographical and historical perspectives.

Extending the Lesson
Identify examples of local boundary conflicts, e.g., school districts, county boundaries, townships, farm property, neighbors in town, etc. Gather information about the origin of the conflict by interviewing appropriate individuals, visiting a library or other sources. This information could be shared with class members.

Assessing Student Learning
Instruct students to develop a written response to the following by drawing upon geographical and historical information acquired from the location activity.

• Observe the map(s) of Illinois and speculate at least three locations for potential future conflict between Illinois and its neighboring states.

• Offer an explanation for the occurrence of conflict at your indicated sites. What specific measures should be taken to prevent or minimize future conflict between Illinois and bordering states?

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Please answer the following by referring to "Location," an Illinois map, and an atlas. Identify in 1-4 the latitude and longitude (to the nearest minute) of the four extremes (corners) of the state.

1. Northeast extreme:    Latitude_________.    Longitude_________.

2. Northwest extreme:    Latitude _________.    Longitude ________.

3. Southwest extreme:    Latitude _________.    Longitude ________.

4. Southeast extreme:    Latitude _________.    Longitude _________.

5. Determine the length of the state (from northernmost point to southernmost point) in miles.

   Answer: ______________________________________ miles.

6. Go due EAST from your hometown or school the number of miles in question 5 and indi- cate the state and nearest urban place (city, town, or village) of your new location. Those of you living in the northern part of Illinois might have to improvise because your new location could be in water or even in Canada.

   Answer: ______________________________________

7. Take the number of miles from question 5 and go due WEST from your town or school. Indicate the state and nearest urban place.

   Answer: ______________________________________

8. Identify the water boundaries of Illinois.

   A. _____________________.       C. _________________.

   B. ______________________.       D. _________________.

9. Identify the states that border Illinois.

   A. _____________________.       D. _________________.

   B. ______________________.       E. _________________.

   C. _____________________.       F. _________________.

Answer the following by referring to the examples in "Location."

1. How did Bull Island's location influence the occurrence of a major rock festival in 1972?

2. Suppose Indiana had assessed Illinois for the use of Indiana authorities to control the flow of traffic into Bull Island. Should Illinois pay Indiana for these services? Provide reasons for your response.

3. Identify ways in which Illinois would be different today if Nathaniel Pope had not influenced Congress to alter the original northern border.

4. Should the state of Illinois feel obligated to reimburse Wisconsin for the territory Wisconsin lost during the 1800s to Illinois? Provide reasons.

5. How does Kaskaskia Island's relative location result in conflict between Missouri and Illinois?

6. Would it be reasonable for the town of St. Mary's, Missouri, to establish a toll on vehicles traveling to and from Kaskaskia Island? Explain please.

7. How does the location of Kentucky's boundary along the Ohio River result in conflict with Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio?

8. Should Illinois continue to pursue legal and other means to alter its boundary with Kentucky? Explain your answer.

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At the end of each state scenario below are 1993 figures for (A) motor fuel tax per gallon of gasoline and (B) state cigarette tax per pack of twenty. Comparable Illinois figures are (A) 19 cents and (B) 44 cents.

Wisconsin
The Badger State is still fuming (some believe) about losing a large area to Illinois in the 1818 "ripoff." Wisconsin decided to keep its drinking age of 18 after Illinois raised its limit to 21. Wisconsin once passed a law that gave its residents first pick of camping sites because Illinois visitors were taking all the prime spots. Illinois sued Wisconsin years ago, claiming the Dairy State was dumping raw sewage into the waters that flowed to Illinois. Wisconsin countered with a lawsuit alleging Chicago allowed air pollution to drift northward into Wisconsin. (A) 2.2 cents. (B) 38 cents.

Missouri
Some Missourians still contend that Kaskaskia Island belongs to the Show-me State. Thousands of tax dollars that could go to Missouri are collected each year by the Land of Lincoln. Illinois River pollutants affect the Mississippi River and the water supply of St. Louis. Illinois is upset about the dollars that Missouri reaps from Illinois residents crossing the border to purchase fireworks they cannot buy in Illinois. Downwind from St. Louis, Metro East's (East St. Louis, Edwardsville, and other Illinois communities) location puts it in the path of air pollution drifting eastward. (A)13 cents. (B) 13 cents.

Iowa
Riverboat gambling poses a major conflict between Iowa and Illinois. Fierce competition has resulted in the recent closing of some riverboat gambling facilities on the Iowa side. Much money is at stake. Iowa has lured Illinois residents across the Mississippi to gamble on dog races, something Illinoisans cannot do at home. State of Illinois officials would rather see Illinois' dollars stay east of the river. (A) 20 cents. (B) 36 cents.

Kentucky
Illinois residents have had to purchase Kentucky fishing and boating licenses to use any part of the Ohio River. Kentucky made threats toward a floating casino based in Illinois in 1993 claiming it was going to be operating in Kentucky territory, where riverboat gambling does not exist. Kentucky collects tax dollars from Illinois residents who travel across the Ohio to purchase cheaper cigarettes. (A) 15 cents. (B) 3 cents.

Indiana
Officials in Illinois express concern over the revenue lost to Indiana as Illinois motorists go to the Hoosier State to purchase cheaper gasoline. Some Illinois residents buy large quantities of cigarettes (which are taxed at a much lower rate) in Indiana and transport them to Illinois. One man brags that he buys a year's supply and keeps them frozen until ready to smoke them. Trying to figure out the time in these two states is also a problem. (A) 15 cents. (B) 15.5 cents

Michigan
Carried by the water current that comes down the west side of Lake Michigan past Chicago and turns eastward across northern Indiana toward Michigan's shores, pollution from Illinois can wind up on Michigan beaches or in the drinking water. The unmarked boundary between Illinois and Michigan can lead to jurisdictional problems in boating accidents, airplane crashes, and resource recovery (fish and minerals). (A) 15 cents. (B) 25 cents.

Over the years, Illinois has experienced considerable conflict with neighboring states as a result of changing boundaries, changing interpretations of boundaries, and varying policies across the boundaries. Illinois officials have called the KIMWIMI (Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois) Convention to bring together negotiators from Illinois and the surrounding six states. Illinois officials have expressed concern over past conflicts and the loss of revenue that has occurred due to some of these conflicts. The purpose of the convention is to develop a joint proposal that will put to rest past disputes and prevent future conflict between Illinois and its neighbors. Your peers have recommended you highly as a delegate from your state at the KIMWIMI Convention. Good luck.

You will perform the following specific tasks.

1. Identify previous conflict hot spots.

2. Speculate about future conflict that might result from existing relationships between Illinois and neighbors over taxation, water quality, and other issues.

3. Develop a proposal that will help alleviate present conflict and prevent the occurrence of future conflict.

4. Help prepare a presentation to a panel of representatives (one from each state) during the convention. Focus your presentation on an overview of past and present boundary conflicts involving Illinois and make recommendations to the Panel of Seven that would minimize conflict between Illinois and the states that border Illinois.

Fig. 3. One of a series of cartoons artist Glenn Curtis prepared to accompany news stories appearing around Labor Day 1972 in the Mt. Vernon [Indiana] Democrat concerning the Erie Canal Soda Pop Festival. Courtesy Mt. Vernon Democrat.

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