Unit Two : American Expansion

Unit Outcomes

At the end of this unit, you will be able to:

Explain both the positive and negative consequences of manifest destiny.
Analyze the role westward expansion had on the institution of slavery.
Apply evidence to a claim in a historical context.
Read primary source documents with a specific purpose.

< ----- Consider adding a video of yourself giving an overview of this unit and "hooking" students in.

Questions we will explore together...

Over the next two weeks, I'd like you to consider this COMPELLING QUESTION:

Are societies consistent with the application of ideals?

To help you form an opinion about the compelling question, we will explore these SUPPORTING QUESTIONS:

What are the ideals behind Manifest Destiny?
What ideals were evident by the Louisiana Purchase?
What motivated the annexation of Texas, and was it consistent with the country's ideals?
What motivated the war with Mexico? Was it consistent with the country's ideals?
What motivated Indian Removal? Was it consistent with the country's ideals?
To what extent has Westward expansion lived up to the ideal of the United States?

Important vocabulary you'll need to know...

Content Vocabulary

Thomas Jefferson - third president, plantation owner, slaveholder
Louisiana Purchase - In 1803, the United States bought Louisiana from France for fifteen million dollars
Lewis and Clark - Leaders of a Discovery Expedition to cross the newly acquired land after the Louisiana Purchase
Indian Removal Act 1830 - Signed by Andrew Jackson; authorized the president to negotiate with southern Native American tribes for their removal to lands west of the Mississippi River.
Trail of Tears - a series of forced relocations of approximately 60,000 Native Americans in the US to areas west of the Mississippi River.
Andrew Jackson - seventh president of the United States
Manifest Destiny - a wide held cultural belief in the 1800s United States that setters were destined to expand across North America
Mexican American War - an armed conflict between the US and Mexico from 1846-1848 started to help the US fulfill its Manifest Destiny
Texan Annexation - The Republic of Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836 and was admitted into the US as the 28th state in 1845.

Academic Vocabulary

Interpret - explain the meaning of something (video, political cartoon, speech, etc.)
Compare - note the similarities between one or more objects, ideas, etc.
Contrast - note the differences between one or more objects, ideas, etc.
Identify - recognize, point out, locate
Analyze - break down complex topics and ideas into small parts in order to get a better understanding of it
Evaluate - to make a judgement on the importance, quality, or worth of an object, idea or piece of content

Getting organized for learning

Before we begin learning, please put these important dates in your Google Calendar.

[Insert date and time of required Zoom meeting]
[Insert date and time of required Zoom meeting]
Learning Journal due SEPTEMBER X no later than Midnight
[Insert formative assessment due date]
[Insert summative assessment due date]

Learning Task Number One

This task is intended to help you explore the positive and negatives of Manifest Destiny.

Complete the three activities to the right before moving on to Learning Task #2.

First: Watch this video as introduction to the concept of societal "ideals."

As you watch, think about the "ideals" we live by as a society today.

Second: Read this article about Manifest Destiny - an "ideal" that was important to many during the 1800's in the United States.

Third: Click on the Google Classroom icon above to get a copy of your learning journal. Complete the section labeled "Learning Task One". You will be coming back to this learning journal often, so you may wish to bookmark it!

Learning Task Number Two

This task is intended to help you help you continue exploring the positive and negatives of Manifest Destiny.

We will also practice reading primary source documents for the purpose of identifying societal ideals.

Complete the activities to the right before moving on to Learning Task #3.

First: Join a Zoom Meeting!

Choose ONE Zoom meeting to join. Each meeting will engage students in the same lesson and conversation, so pick what works best for you.

Monday Sept X from 12-1pm with Mr. Teacher Man
Tuesday Sept X from 9-10am with Mrs. Teacher Lady
Tuesday Sept X from 1-2pm with Mrs. Super Educator

Second: Document your learning.

Return to the learning journal document you started in Learning Task Number one. Complete the prompts under the Learning Task Two header.

Learning Task Number Three

This learning task is intended to help you understand how Manifest Destiny was the driving force behind many important historical events.

REQUIRED: Read through this document and take notes in your learning journal.
If you are struggling to complete your learning journal or want to learn more, check out these optional resources:
- Video: Lewis and Clark at Pompey's Pillar
- Images: Primary source collection of Westward Expansion art and documents
- Timeline: Westward Expansion Timeline

Hint for teachers: Use a "Collapsible Text" like this one when you anticipate a lot of content in a particular module. It can reduce the amount of scrolling a student must do to get to each part of the unit.

Check -In : What have you learned so far?

It's time for me to check on your progress! Please click here to TURN IN your learning journal.

This should be done no later than SEPTEMBER X before MIDNIGHT.

STOP: Before moving on with this unit, check your email for any messages from me.

Learning Task Number Four

This task is designed to help you explain the role of westward expansion on the institution of slavery.

Watch the Crash Course US History Video to the right.
As you watch, takes notes about the ways westward expansion influenced the institution of slavery. How did slaves help build America?
Add your thinking to the class FlipGrid below.

Teachers: When possible EMBED content on your site instead of sending students away from your lesson with a lot of links.

Not sure how to embed content? Learn more here.

Notetaking with Outlines

Learning Task Number Five

This task is intended to help you [insert learning objective].

Complete the three activities to the right before moving on to Learning Task #6.

[Insert task title. Use + button to embed a video, Slide show, doc, or an image that can link to an outside site like Flipgrid]

Check -In : What have you learned so far?

[Insert formative assessment here]

[Remind students of a due date for this assessment, if applicable]

STOP: Before moving on with this unit, check your email for any messages from me.

Learning Task Number Six

This learning task will help you practice

[insert unit outcome here].

Click on the Google Classroom icon to the right to access your practice activity.

Teacher: Click on the image and insert a link to the assignment you created in classroom. Delete this caption before sharing with students.

Learning Task Number Seven

This learning task will help you [insert unit outcome here].

After you navigate these slides, check your understanding by [insert link to an auto grading Google Form, a discussion board on your classroom, a Padlet, a Flipgrid, etc.]

Generic Slides

Summative Assessment

You have worked hard these last two weeks, and now it is time to show just how far you've come in progressing toward these unit objectives:

[Insert unit outcome here]
[Insert unit outcome here]
[Insert unit outcome here]

To show me what you know, you will need to [insert directions and link to summative assessment here.]

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