Unit 5: Expansion, Disunion, and Reconstruction (1844-1877)
As the young nation grew in population and land, regional tensions centered around the spread of slavery and states' rights led to a civil war that permanently transformed American society and the nature of government. Beginning with the election of James Polk in 1844, the United States pursued westward expansion and the opening of new foreign markets. The ideology of "Manifest Destiny" led to a war with Mexico and the acquisition of vast western lands, while intense debates regarding the spread of slavery intensified sectional tensions. After Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, the southern states seceded, marking the beginning of the Civil War. After four brutal years of fighting and 500,000 casualties, the Union's military victory resulted in a contested Reconstruction period and left unresolved many questions about the power of the federal government and citizenship rights.
Period 5 Key Concepts:
Key Concept 5.1: The United States became more concerned with the world, pursued and expansionist foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, and emerged as the destination for many migrants from other countries.
Key Concept 5.2: Intensified by expansion and deepening regional divisions, debates over slavery and other economic, cultural, and political issues led the nation into civil war.
Key Concept 5:3: The Union victory in the Civil War and the contested reconstruction of the South settled the issues of slavery and secession, but left unresolved many questions about the power of the federal government and citizenship rights.
Period 5 Topics:
5.1 Contextualization
5.2 Manifest Destiny
5.3 The Mexican-American War
5.4 The Compromise of 1850
5.5 Sectional Conflicts: Regional Differences
5.6 Failure of Compromise
5.7 The Election of 1860 and Secession
5.8 Military Conflict in the Civil War
5.9 Government Policies During the Civil War
5.10 Reconstruction
5.11 Failure of Reconstruction
Period 5/Unit 5 Calendar
Period Packet 5 (Chapters 13-15)
Amsco AP United States History (Review Book ~ Period 5) . . . coming soon (Amsco Chapters for this Unit do not align perfectly with Brinkley textbook chapters)
(Including Amsco practice Multiple Choice, SAQ, LEQ, DBQ Questions and Answers; Amsco Answers coming soon)
Daily Learning Activities:
Monday, December 2 (Contextualization, Manifest Destiny)
- Turn in Antebellum Reforms DBQ Graphic Organizer and Chapter 13 Textbook Question/Answers
- Period 4/SAQ Feedback (revisions due Friday, Dec. 6)
- Manifest Destiny Imagery (Image #1, Image #2)
- Mexcian-American War Tea Party (directions here): Tea Party guest meet-up; "We Take Nothing by Conquest, Thank God" Howard Zinn reading
HW: (1) "We Take Nothing by Conquest, Thank God" Howard Zinn reading (2) Chapter 14 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 9)
Tuesday, Dec. 3/Wednesday, Dec. 4 (Mexican-American War, Territorial Expansion)
- Mexcian-American War Tea Party guest meet-up + "We Take Nothing by Conquest, Thank God" Howard Zinn reading discussion
- Mexican-American War political cartoon analysis
- Mapping: Territorial Expansion and Contested Compromises (maps here)
HW: Chapter 14 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 9)
Thursday, Dec. 5 (The March Towards Civil War)
- Jimmy Fallon & the Gadsden Purchase
- Mapping: Contested Compromises (maps here)
- Powerpoint Notes: The March Towards Civil War
HW: (1) Chapter 14 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 9) (2) Chapter 15 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 16)
Friday, Dec. 6 (Causes of the Civil War)
- "John Brown's Body" Civil War song
- Powerpoint Notes: The March Towards Civil War
- SAQ: Write
HW: (1) Chapter 14 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 9) (2) Chapter 15 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 16)
Monday, Dec. 9 (The Civil War)
- SAQ: Peer Grade
- Fighting the Civil War (North v. South Advantages/Disadvantages Song Parody Mr. Betts; The Battle of Bull Run video; the Anaconda Plan image + video Brittanica website; Civil War technology website)
HW: Chapter 15 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 16)
Tuesday, Dec. 10/Wednesday, Dec. 11 (The Civil War)
- The Emancipation Proclamation: Did Lincoln Free the Slaves or did the slaves free themselves?
*Video: Warrior Grant
HW: Chapter 15 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 16)
Thursday, Dec. 12 (The Civil War)
- Opposition to the Civil War, Diplomatic Clashes, and the Purpose of the War (worksheet here)
- Period 5 Stimulus Test Review Sheet
HW: Chapter 15 Text Questions (due Monday, Dec. 16)
Friday, Dec. 13 (Reconstruction)
- Opposition to the Civil War, Diplomatic Clashes, and the Purpose of the War (worksheet here)
- Work Time: Chapter 15 Notes, Period 5 Exam Review Sheet
Monday,Dec. 16 (Reconstruction)
- Amsco Multiple Choice Answers here
- Notes: "The End of the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era"
- Reconstruction Primary Sources here
HW: Period 5 Stimulus Test & SAQ