Units of Study

Unit 6: Jacksonian DemocracyUnit 6: Jacksonian Democracy

EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, many Europeans embarked upon a "New World." Then again, the "new world" wasn't exactly "new" to those who inhabited America for centuries prior to the arrival of Europeans. When worlds collide, it creates challenges for all. Your job during this unit is to investigate what kind of relationship existed between Europeans and Native Americans in the "New World."

REVOLUTION

In the mid 1700's, American colonists revolted against their government and King, paving the way to the formation of the United States of America in 1776. But was this revolution an act of justice or an act of betrayal? Are there times when its appropriate to challenge authority? How should it be challenged? Your job in this investigation is to determine whether or not the American Revolution was necessary and carried out appropriately.

A MORE PERFECT UNION

In 1787, delegates from all over the United States met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and create a new Constitution. Though viewed as a success, plenty of controversy surrounded the ratification of the Constitution. For this investigation, you are going back in time to Philadelphia in 1787. As a "guest" of the Convention, your job will be take note of all that you see and hear from the delegates.

WRITING THE CONSTITUTION

In framing a government, there is a conflict between making the government efficient and preventing tyranny. Improving one hurts the other. The framers of the Constitution recognized this and decided that PREVENTING TYRANNY was more important than ensuring efficiency This Unit will analyze the principles and roots that are the foundation to the framework of the United States Constitution.

SECOND SEMESTER

THE EARLY REPUBLIC

This unit bundles student expectations that address the years of the Early Republic and the first five presidents. During this time of the Early Republic, the new nation was moving toward a world position. The need for foreign policy became quite real. This unit follows the issues facing the new nation as it feels its way to its position in the world. The unit leads students to understand some of the struggles going on internally and externally, including defining the power of the executive, the development of political parties, and the War of 1812. Students begin putting together all the pieces in order to follow the growth of foreign policy from the perspectives of the first five presidents.

Prior to this unit, students learned about the conflicts during the Constitutional Convention and the application of the Constitution.

During this unit, students examine the successes and failures of the early government. The causes and results of the conflicts that occurred during the early years of the new nation are studied focusing on political and economic factors. Students utilize primary and secondary sources during the unit and to trace the foreign policy of the first five presidents. Judicial review and the Marbury v. Madison landmark case is analyzed in this unit.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

In This Unit we will identify how the Industrial revolution transformed the way goods were produced in the United States. Explain how factories changed working life for many Americans. Analyze how new forms of transportation improved business, travel, and communication in the United States.

JACKSON ERA

The focus of this unit will be on decisions of American President Andrew Jackson changes the role of government especially the role of the President of the United States. Was Andrew Jackson democratic? Was he a good president? To make your decision, you will have to learn what each challenge to his presidency accomplished or did not accomplish and ultimately evaluate whether or not he made good choices.

MANIFEST DESTINY AND WESTWARD EXPANSION

This unit bundles the concept of American expansionism during the Manifest Destiny time period. In 7th grade, you learned about the U.S. Mexican War and the Texas Revolution. This year, prior to this unit, you learned about the Louisiana Purchase and Jackson’s treatment of the American Indians. During this unit you will learn about the government regulations for statehood and settlement within the Northwest Ordinance and the Homestead Act. You’ll also learn about the concept of Manifest Destiny, how the United States acquired new lands and the people that chose to settle them. Finally, we’ll learn about the U.S. Mexican War and the impact the war had on the U.S.

AGE OF REFORM

The 1800’s was a century of tremendous change.In this unit, we will learn how the US changed ECONOMICALLY, & SOCIALLY along with the people who made it possible. In addition, we will understand how all of these changes affected various people in America while wondering: if these people were alive today, what would their Facebook status be?

CIVIL WAR

THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - The war fought in the United States between northern (Union) and southern (Confederate) states from 1861 to 1865, in which the Confederacy sought to establish itself as a separate nation. The Civil War is also known as the War for Southern Independence and as the War between the States. The purpose of this unit is to understand what caused this war, ultimately resulting in the deaths of 620,000 Americans.

RECONSTRUCTION