UNIT DESCRIPTION

In this unit, students will study the development of the American political system and how the new government responded to both internal and external threats. Emphasis will be placed on the challenges a young America faced from the Native Americans and the British navy. Students will study the political and geographical changes that took place during Jefferson’s presidency and how the War of 1812 helped to make the United States stronger. Students will explore the expeditions of Lewis and Clark as well as America’s continued conflicts at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Essential Questions Exploration · How did Americans respond to internal and external changes? · How did Jefferson & Madison deal with unresolved problems?

Performance Task: As a citizen of Aurora, lately it seems to you and your friends as though the political parties in the city aren’t addressing your concerns. So you have decided to create your own political party so that you can run for office and work to solve some of the city’s problems. But in order to get people to vote for you, you will need to create a political platform to identify what you stand for. Your target audience is the people of Aurora. In order to create a successful political platform you will want to consider the following things: · The five major issues currently facing the city and your solutions to those problems · The geography of the city and how that effects differing views and problems to solve, as well as how you might address the concerns of people in different areas of the city · How you will pay for the solutions, and how that may affect voter attitudes · How different generations of Aurorans might view the problems you have identified, and how you might address their concerns · Previous solutions to problems, why they may or may not have worked and how you might improve on those solutions A successful platform will come in the form of a presentation and will be supported by social science questions about the topic and research evidence that supports your platform. All evidence should be cited appropriately.