Manifest Destiny

Mexico was not happy after Texas revolted and became their own nation. Texas wanted independence after many Americans were recruited to live in this territory but were not interested in following and adapting to Mexican culture. These Texans (Americans) and Tejanos (Mexican-Americans) wanted slavery even though it was outlawed in Mexico. After Texans were greatly defeated at the Alamo they used this as their battle cry "Remember the Alamo" and would eventual defeat Mexican forces at the Battle of Jacinto leading to their independence.

Not long after gaining their independence the Republic of Texas found that they were struggling financially after fighting in their own revolution as well as finding it hard to defend themselves against Native Americans. This along with many Americans living in this territory they wanted to be annexed by the U.S.

With the United States wanting to expand out west, the annexation of Texas seemed to be the next step. However, doing so would create an unbalance in slave and free states within the Union as well as threaten war with Mexico.

If you were President would you move towards annexing Texas as part of the union or remain independent?

Manifest Destiny in the United States

Today we continued learning about Manifest Destiny. Americans started believing that they were morally and culturally superior to their Native, Mexican, and British neighbors and that it was Go's will and the people's duty to spread American virtues from "sea to shining sea". You will now explore other reasons as to why the U.S. would want to expand their country to the west.

Your assignment is as follows:

Read pages 516-518  

While reading, fill out the bubbles with the different motives for Manifest Destiny. Below is the worksheet that was given in class, if you do not have the worksheet you can transfer this image to your own sheet of paper and fill in the bubbles accordingly. Manifest Destiny should be placed in the center bubble.

The Age of Jackson

Use these guides to help study for the test of Andrew Jackson

Click on the following link: Study Guide

Watch the following video for additional information: Nullification Crisis

Andrew Jackson on Trial

Click on the link The Trial of Andrew Jackson. Once you get to the site start by watching the short video over Andrew Jackson. When finished, look to the right hand side and click on the word THINK. There will be multiple choice questions you must answer. Next, click on the words DIG DEEPER to read a short passage over Andrew Jackson. Finally, your assignment will be to answer the following discussion question over the film, your readings, prior knowledge, and further research.

On your own sheet of paper respond to the following question:

If you were on the jury in Andrew Jackson’s trial, what would your final verdict have been? What pieces of evidence or parts of his life did you find most compelling in forming your own opinion? Do some of your own research.

Make sure to answer in complete sentences. Your response should be a well developed paragraph.

The United States Constitution  

Lesson 1: Today we will be looking at the preamble of the constitution. The preamble is the introduction of the constitution stating its purpose and justifications. As a class we will first watch a video singing the preamble, follow along with the lyrics. You will later complete a worksheet where you will have to fill in the blanks for the words of our preamble. Once you have completed the worksheet you will then tape it into your interactive notebook.

As we watch the School House Rock song of the preamble think about these guiding questions:

 How does the Constitution relate to me? 

Why is the Preamble still important today?

Use this link to sing along and memorize the preamble on your own!

Preamble School House Rock

A quiz will be given at the end of class, once completed tape into your interactive notebook.

Make sure to complete your vocabulary in the back of your interactive notebook (this will be checked tomorrow in class). Here is the list of the vocabulary you should have defined in your own words...make sure to add a picture or doodle to deepen your connections!
1. Preamble
2. Domestic tranquility
3. Posterity


Lesson 2: Summarize and analyze the constitution. First grab a piece of paper to write down all they words of the preamble that you can remember! Once you have done so turn this in at the front of the class. We will now take time to watch a quick video from Crash Course covering the constitution, the articles, and federalism. Be thinking about these guiding questions while watching the video:

Where does the power of government come from?

Was compromise an effective tool in creating the constitution and what compromises were made?

We will now discuss and review the seven articles of the constitution. Make sure to take any notes and write down any questions you may have! Our summary of each article will be added to this shared google doc found here- Constitution Summary. Once we have completed the summary as a class, you will divide into 7 groups to further explore each article. Add your findings to the Constitution summary google doc (make sure to add the names of everyone in your group to the article you are assigned).

Now the fun part, you will be composing your own constitution. Keep in mind the parts of our United State Constitution. We have separate powers, the ability to make changes, and comparable law making, include these aspects in your constitution! Once this has been completed tape it into your interactive notebook.

Make sure to complete your vocabulary in the back of your interactive notebook (this will be checked tomorrow in class). Here is the list of the vocabulary you should have defined in your own words...make sure to add a picture or doodle to deepen your connections!
4. Democracy
5. Checks and balances
6. Amendment
7. Ratification

Lesson 3: Dig deeper into Article 1 of the Constitution. Today we will be explaining, interpreting, and applying the responsibilities of the legislative branch. Looking at the separate powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate. As a class we will watch a video over the Senate vs. House. You will need to take notes and complete this table for your interactive notebook-Table. For more clarification on the roles of the house and senate you can watch this video Legislative process. When watching the video consider these guiding questions:

1. How does the Constitution limit power

2. Why is it it important to have a distribution of powers?

We will then discuss the actions of passing a law and the procedure that must be endured. Following, compose a flow chart to help visualize the process of a bill becoming a law (add pictures, doodles, and words!). Tape the completed chart into your interactive notebook.

Make sure to complete your vocabulary in the back of your interactive notebook (this will be checked tomorrow in class). Here is the list of the vocabulary you should have defined in your own words...make sure to add a picture or doodle to deepen your connections!
8. Conference committee
9. Redistricting
10. Quorum
11. Filibuster

Lesson 4: Dig deeper into Article 2 of the Constitution. Today we will be explaining, interpreting, and applying the responsibilities of the executive branch. Looking at the process of becoming president and the powers that succeed. As a class we will analyze maps of historical Presidential elections to current day results using this website Presidential election. We will then discuss the presidential line of succession. Take notes during the video over the presidential Line of succession then select a partner to research who would be the next three in line if our current president were to pass or be removed. Once you have completed this turn in your paper at the front of the room (answers will be checked as a class).

We will now continue to learn about the process of becoming president through voting and the role of the Electoral college. Keeping that in mind we will perform a mock election. Three students will be selected one representing the democrats, the republicans, and the third party candidate. All students will be numbered off and put into groups to research one of the three party's beliefs. Each group will then create a poster with the candidate (the poster they help create will not necessarily be the person they vote for!).

As a class we will watch the Closing Statement of the last presidential election. While watching keep in mind these guiding questions:

1. Why is it important to limit our executive powers?

2. How does the president execute the laws?

Our mock election will then take place with each party candidate preparing and expressing their closing statement. Students will then place their poll to decide the popular vote. 

A short quiz will be given at the end of class, once completed it should be taped into your interactive notebook. 

Make sure to complete your vocabulary in the back of your interactive notebook (this will be checked tomorrow in class). Here is the list of the vocabulary you should have defined in your own words...make sure to add a picture or doodle to deepen your connections!  

12. Electoral college

13. Impeach

14. Inauguration

15. Reprieve

Lesson 5: Dig deeper into Article 3 of the Constitution. Today we will be explaining, interpreting, and applying the responsibilities of the judicial branch and breaking down the three sections within the article. Looking at the role the supreme court, our court system itself, and treason.

To follow we will then simulate our own court case! First the chief of justice will be chose, the jury, defendant, and convict. Use this website to help gain greater understanding of the supreme court- Supreme court. Then watch part of this Supreme court case as a class to get an idea of how the system works. While watching think about these guiding questions:

1. Why is it important to have an independent judiciary within our government?

2. Is the legislative branch too powerful? 

The court case will proceed until a decision is met by the jury...at the end of the class period! The judge will then either rule the convicted either guilty or innocent. You will then use that same link to answer questions for a quick quiz over the legislative branch (Supreme court). Once you have completed the quiz tape it into your interactive notebook.

Make sure to complete your vocabulary in the back of your interactive notebook (this will be checked tomorrow in class). Here is the list of the vocabulary you should have defined in your own words...make sure to add a picture or doodle to deepen your connections!  

16. Jurisdiction

17. Extradition

18. Appellate Court

Lesson 6: Continue in the Constitution to the Bill of Rights. Looking deeper to explain, interpret, and apply our first ten amendments. If you want help remember what each amendment is you can watch this video on your own. As a class we will first watch this introduction of the Bill of Rights. Think about these guiding questions when watching the video and participating in discussion:

1. What rights do you have as a students?

2. How are the amendments crucial to the Constitution?

Continuing, we will break up into 10 groups to create a more in depth poster or presentation over each of the amendments. Follow the rubric found on this shared google doc. During working time I will play the Preamble, within the last 5-10 minutes of class you will have to write down all the words-- or as many as you can remember! to turn into the front of the class.

Make sure to complete your vocabulary in the back of your interactive notebook (this will be checked tomorrow in class). Here is the list of the vocabulary you should have defined in your own words...make sure to add a picture or doodle to deepen your connections!
19. Amendment
20. Abridge
21. Redress
22. Infringe
23. Indictment
24. Enumeration

Lesson 7: Summative assessment. You will now be ready for your final assessment. It will include 5 essay questions and a video response. For the video response you will be given a list of additional questions the day of the test, once you have completed the written portion you will then step out of the room to record a 3-5 minute response to ONE selected question. You will use the website Lifelogger to submit your clip under my account. Good luck!