UNIT DESCRIPTION

Students will study the ideas and concepts of Manifest Destiny, with emphasis on the debate over states’ rights versus the rights of the federal government, the causes and consequences of the removal of Indians, the addition of new states to the Union, the Monroe Doctrine, and secession. The unit will also address the start of reform movements aimed at women’s rights and ending slavery.

Essential Questions Exploration · How did the nation reflect a growing sense of national pride and identity? · Why did Americans take different paths in the early 1800s? · How did reformers & writers inspire change and controversy?

Performance Task: A nation’s symbols can serve as a powerful reminder of our past, both things we are proud of and things we are not so proud of. What we choose to use as symbols send a message to others about what we believe and who we are. Recently, a discussion started in the United States based around this question: “Should Andrew Jackson be on the $20 bill?” Your task, as a citizen of the United States, is to add your voice to the discussion about our nation’s symbols. You are being asked to engage in a debate for the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury arguing your case for either keeping Jackson on the $20 bill or removing him in order to help the secretary determine the appropriate symbolism for that currency. Your debate presentation should address the Jackson’s impacts on the following areas: · His importance and influence on different cultural and geographic sections of the United States · His importance and impacts of his economic decisions of the well-being of the American economy and individual Americans · His influence on the rights of individuals and different groups within the United States · How Jackson shaped, influenced, and reacted to major historical developments of his day Your debate presentation should include evidence to support your assertion. That evidence should take into account multiple points of view in order to represent as full a picture of Jackson’s America as possible. The secretary will then hold a vote to decide which campaign will be presented to the public.