Historian s Apprentice WebQuest America: History of Our Nation

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1 Historian s Apprentice WebQuest America: History of Our Nation Unit Three: The New Republic Political Parties Guiding Question: Why did two political parties develop in the early days of the new nation? 1. Define the term faction as it appears in political factions. Use it in a sentence of your own creation. 2. What led to the rise of political factions during George Washington s presidency? How did Washington feel about this development? 3. Who were the leaders of the Republicans and the Federalist factions? Why did they disagree over the power of the federal government? 4. Do you think that the formation of political parties helped or hurt democracy? Explain your answer in a brief paragraph. 5. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, prepare a political platform (a statement of a political party s beliefs) for the Federalist Party or for the Republican Party to present to the class. Be sure that each platform includes the following: a. The general principles of the party b. The party s position on major domestic and foreign policy issues, such as a national tariff, a national bank, and relations with France and Great Britain c. The main reasons why your party should be supported and why the opposition party should not be supported U.S. History (for Chapter Four and Chapter Five). Search for The Presidents (Thomas Jefferson) and then click on National Park Service The Presidents (Thomas Jefferson). Judicial Review Guiding Question: How did Supreme Court rulings strengthen federal power? 1. Define the principle of judicial review. How did the US Supreme Court acquire the power of judicial review? 2. What was the immediate result of Chief Justice Marshall s ruling in Marbury v. Madison? 3. How did the Republicans react to this decision? The Federalists? 4. Describe the effect judicial review had on the balance of power in the federal government. 5. How would the balance of power between the three branches of government be different if there were no judicial review? Explain your answer in a brief paragraph. 6. Answer the guiding question in a paragraph. 7. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, create a multimedia presentation of the major Supreme Court cases under Chief Justice John Marshall that involved judicial review of Congressional or state legislation. Be sure that your presentation includes the following information: a. The case title and date b. The issue involved c. The Supreme Court s opinion in the case 1

2 d. The immediate effect of the ruling e. Your opinion on the ruling. Does it make legal sense, or was politics involved in the decision? Click on 100 Milestone Documents. Then scroll down and click on Marbury v Madison (1803). U.S. History (for Chapter Five). Click on Discover History and then search for The Great Chief Justice at Home. Westward Expansion Guiding Question: Why was westward expansion important to the growth of the nation? 1. What was the Louisiana Purchase? How did it immediately affect the United States? 2. Why did France want to sell the Louisiana Territory, and why did President Jefferson agree to the purchase? What constitutional power did he exercise when he made the Louisiana Purchase? 3. What challenges did the United States face having gained such a large territory? 4. What were the goals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition? What were the results? 5. In what ways might the United States be different today had it not pursued westward expansion? 6. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, create a multimedia presentation on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Be sure that the presentation includes the following information: a. Brief biographies of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark b. A map that i. displays the route of the expedition ii. describes at least five expedition highlights along the route c. A summary of the findings of the expedition d. Appropriate images, sounds, graphic organizers, and videos, as needed Search for Louisiana Purchase. Click on History and then Search for Lewis and Clark Expedition. U.S. History (for Chapter Four). A National Economy Guiding Question: How did the national economy develop in the early years of the country? 1. Define the term nationalism. Use it in a sentence of your own creation. 2. Why did economic development contribute to a growing sense of nationalism? What actions did Congress take to increase the nation s economic prosperity? 3. How did Supreme Court rulings support national economic growth? 4. Who were Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun? What regions did they represent and what were their political and economic views? 5. Explain how Henry Clay s American System was supposed to benefit each section of the nation. 6. What regional differences were just beginning to cause conflict during this time? What regional differences cause conflict today? 7. How did the national economy develop in the early years of the country? 2

3 8. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, create a database (a collection of information) of economic facts and figures that will create a picture of the national economy around the year 1820 that you will present to the class and that will serve as a resource for other students who will study this period of American history. Be sure that the database includes information on the following: a. Population b. Workers c. Agriculture and industry d. Major cities e. Regional economic differences f. National income U.S. History (for Chapter Five) Search for Historical Abstract and then scroll down and click on Statistical Abstracts. Locate Historical Statistics of the United States, and open either the PDF or ZIP versions for statistical data. Monroe Doctrine Guiding Question: How did the Monroe Doctrine affect U. S. relations with other nations? 1. Define the terms era and doctrine. Use them in sentences of your own creation. 2. Why was the Era of Good Feelings called this? 3. Why did growing national pride affect President Monroe s foreign policy? 4. What caused President Monroe to issue the Monroe Doctrine? What did he hope to accomplish? 5. List the main points of the Monroe Doctrine. 6. Explain the impact that the Monroe Doctrine had on the United States and the world. 7. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, prepare questions and answers for a presidential town hall meeting on the Monroe Doctrine that your class will act out. Be sure that your questions and President Monroe s answers cover the following areas: a. The content of the Monroe Doctrine b. Monroe s reasons for issuing the doctrine at this point in the nation s history c. Possible reactions by European powers d. Possible responses by the United States to European protests or actions e. Benefits to the United States under this doctrine Search for The Presidents (James Monroe) and then click on National Park Service The Presidents (James Monroe). 3

4 Jacksonian Democracy Guiding Question: Why did the election of Andrew Jackson bring a New Era in Politics? 1. How did Andrew Jackson s background differ from the backgrounds of previous presidents? 2. What change in voting rights helped to elect Jackson in 1828? 3. Why was Jackson known as the people s president? 4. Which groups opposed Jackson s policies as president? For what reasons did they oppose them? 5. Why is Jackson s presidency considered a period of increased democracy in the United States? Did all groups in society share equally in this increased democracy? Explain your answer. 6. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, prepare an interactive graphic organizer that compares President Jackson s view of democracy to President Jefferson s view. Be sure to provide answers for both presidents to the following questions: a. Which classes should govern the nation? b. What powers should the federal government have? c. How strong should the president be? d. Who should have voting rights? e. How broad should be the public s participation in government? f. Should there be equal opportunity in economic life? Click on the White House and then Presidents. Scroll down on click on Andrew Jackson. Search for The Presidents (Andrew Jackson) and then click on National Park Service The Presidents (Andrew Jackson). Search for Art and History and then Vice President of the United States (scroll down to Thomas Jefferson). Indian Removal Guiding Question: Why were Native Americans removed from their lands? 1. Define the term ethnic cleansing. Use it in a sentence of your own creation. 2. What was President Jackson s policy toward Native Americans? What were the reasons behind this policy? 3. What was the Supreme Court s ruling on the issue of Indian removal? How did President Jackson respond? 4. List the provisions of the Indian Removal Act of In your opinion, would this qualify as a document that supported ethnic cleansing? Explain your answer fully. 5. Why was the removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory called the Trail of Tears? Do you think it is an appropriate description? Explain your answer. 6. What were the long-term effects of the policy of removing Native Americans from their lands? How are these effects seen today? 7. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, create a series of news headlines that tell the story of the removal of Native Americans to Indian Territory in the 1830s in chronological sequence. Be sure that the headlines describe the following: a. Congressional legislation b. Supreme Court rulings c. Presidential actions d. Native American responses e. The Trail of Tears 4

5 Search for Indian Removal Lesson Plan and then click on The Trail of Tears and the Forced Relocation of the Cherokee Nation. Federal Power versus States Rights Guiding Question: Why did the issue of the balance between the powers of the states and the powers of the federal government rise again in the 1830s? 1. Define the term states rights. Use it in a sentence of your own creation. 2. Why was there a crisis over federal and state powers when Jackson was president? How was this conflict similar to one under President Adams? 3. Compare President Jackson s position on the authority of the federal government to the political position of states rights supporters. 4. How was the crisis over federal and state powers in the 1830s resolved? 5. Why do you think that the question of states rights rises from time to time in American history? Can you think of an issue today involving state s rights and the federal government? Explain your answer. 6. Group Product: Using the information gathered from your research, create a script for a presidential-style debate between John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson on federal power versus state s rights. Then, conduct the debate before the class. Be sure to include the following information and procedures in your debate presentation: a. Opening statements from each participant explaining his position on the question of state s rights versus federal power b. Moderator questions that cover the issues of i. nullification ii. secession c. Closing statements from each participant arguing against the other s position