American sign language has an interesting history. Although there have always been deaf individuals in America, the history really begins in 1817. Before 1817 deaf people communicated by using "home signs". Gestures were individually created and used within the home for simple communication. There were no schools or formal sign language training for the deaf. 

So, why was 1817 an important date? Well, the story begins with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Gallaudet met his neighbor's daughter Alice Cogswell. Alice was the young deaf daughter of Dr. Mason Cogswell from Hartford, Connecticut. Gallaudet began teaching Alice to read and write a few simple words. Excited by the success Dr. Cogswell encouraged Gallaudet to establish a school for the deaf. Cogswell raised the money and Gallaudet traveled to Britain to learn the methods used there. However, the schools refused to share their instructional techniques and methods. 

While in London, there happened to be a demonstration of the French method of deaf education. Britain was using an oral method of instruction; however, the French method used signs. Gallaudet was fascinated with the method and was able to meet with the instructor, Sicard, and his two deaf pupils, Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc. Sicard agreed to teach Gallaudet his method and Gallaudet went to Paris to learn French signs. After a while, Gallaudet wished to return home and convinced Clerc to go with him and help him establish the school. The trip home was a 52-day voyage during which Clerc taught Gallaudet French signs and Gallaudet taught Clerc English. 

On April 15, 1817, Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet established what is currently known as the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. The opening of the first school for the deaf can be viewed as one of the most important events in current deaf culture. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. When did American Sign Language begin?
2. What date marks the beginning of American Sign Language?
3. What year was a turning point for American sign language?
Q2:
1. How did deaf Americans communicate before 1817?
2. How did deaf people in America communicate prior to 1817?
3. Before 1817, what was the primary method of communication among deaf Americans?
Q3:
1. What were "home signs" exactly?
2. What was meant by "home signs"?
3. How could the former system of "home signs" be defined?
Q4:
1. Why couldn't deaf people take classes to learn signs?
2. What was preventing deaf Americans from taking sign language classes?
3. Why didn't deaf people just take classes in signs before 1817?
Q5:
1. What did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet do?
2. What was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's role before inventing sign language?
3. Before inventing sign language, what was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet up to?
Q6:
1. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet successfully teach Alice to read and write?
2. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet succeed in imparting knowledge on his neighbor's daughter?
3. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet manage to teach his deaf pupil to read and write?
Q7:
1. What did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet do after working with Alice?
2. After he'd taught a deaf girl to read and write, what did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet do?
3. What was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet next order of business after working with Alice?
Q8:
1. What happened while Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was in Britain?
2. What occurred during Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's trip to Britain?
3. What did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet come across while in Britain?
Q9:
1. What method of communication did the British use for the deaf?
2. What method did deaf Britains use to communicate?
3. How did deaf people in Britain communicate?
Q10:
1. How was the French method of communication different from the British one?
2. What made the French method distinct from the British one?
3. How did the French method of communication for the deaf differ from that of the Brits?
Q11:
1. What did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet think of French sign language?
2. What was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's opinion of French sign language?
3. How did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet react to the French langauge of signs?
Q12:
1. Who did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meet in France?
2. Who did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet come across in France?
3. Whose acquaintance did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet make while in France?
Q13:
1. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meet someone other than Sicard in France?
2. Were there people other than Sicard that Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet came across in France?
3. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet people outside of just Sicard during his trip to France?
Q14:
1. Who did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meet in France, besides Sicard?
2. Who did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet come across in France, in addition to Sicard?
3. Whose acquaintance did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet make while in France, along with Sicard?
Q15:
1. Were Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc instructors like Sicard?
2. Did Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc teach, as Sicard did?
3. Were Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc employed as teachers?
Q16:
1. Who were Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc?
2. What was the relationship between Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc and Sicard?
3. How were Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc related to Sicard?
Q17:
1. Did Sicard teach Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet his method?
2. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet learn the French method?
3. Was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet able to learn the French method from Sicard?
Q18:
1. Where did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet learn French sign language?
2. Where did Sicard teach Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet the French language of signs?
3. In what city did Sicard give Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet lessons in French sign language?
Q19:
1. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet return to America after learning French sign language?
2. After he had learned the French language of signs, did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet go back to the US?
3. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet return to the United States after receiving lessons in French sign language?
Q20:
1. How long was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet voyage from France to the US?
2. How much time did it take Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet to get back to the US from Paris?
3. How many days did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet spend getting back to the United States from Paris?
Q21:
1. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet ever start a school?
2. DId Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet end up founding a school?
3. Did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet create an education center?
Q22:
1. When did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet create a school?
2. When was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's education center for the deaf established?
3. On what date was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's school established?
Q23:
1. What was the location of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's school for the deaf?
2. Where did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet establish his school?
3. Where was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's school for deaf people?
