Unit 4: Expansion and Conflict
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Students will learn that the early 19th century marked major social, geographic, political and economic changes for the United States. Where Americans lived, what they did for work, and who was considered “American” dramatically changed during this time period. Despite rapid expansion, industrial growth, and progress, the United States faced a crisis of conscience and multiple challenges to the moral identity of Americans stemming from issues that divided the country such as westward expansion, women’s suffrage, slavery, and a new nativist sentiment against European immigrants.
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Topic 1: Westward Expansion
Connections to the unit content: During this unit, students analyze the factors that motivated Americans to move westward, analyze the political, social, and economic factors that led to U.S. territorial expansion, and relate the theory of Manifest Destiny to westward expansion. They will use the knowledge gained about westward expansion to formulate a claim by the end of the unit on how growth shaped the national identity.
Standards: (7.1.1-5; 7.3.1-5; 7.5.1; 7.7.1; 7.9.3; 7.11.1; 7.11.3)
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Topic 2: Growth and Reform
Connections to the unit claim: Students explore a period of rapid change and development, including immigration, industrialization, and women’s rights and reform movements in order to better understand how political, social, and economic change impacts a nation’s identity.
Standards: (7.1.1-5; 7.3.3; 7.5.1; 7.5.2; 7.6.1-4; 7.7.1; 711.1-3)
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topic 3: Slavery
Students analyze reasons for the expansion of slavery in the South after 1800, describe the life of enslaved African Americans, and their responses to slavery in order to explore how the institution of slavery impacted the nation’s identity.
Standards: (7.1.1-5; 7.3.3-5; 7.5.3; 7.6.1; 7.6.4; 7.11.1; 7.11.3)
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Unit 4 Videos
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