Westward Expansion, Slavery, and Sectionalism 6-8
Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to Causes of the Civil War
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Analyzing the Lewis and Clark Journals
Jennifer Stenerson
Description of Lesson: Students will take on the role of historians writing and reporting from their findings in the Lewis and Clark journals. Students will understand the importance of using primary sources when documenting historical information. Once students have reported on a particular journal entry, they will get in groups and compare their findings to other students with the same entry. Reports will be given by each group to the entire class.
War of 1812
Jessica Lopez
Description of Lesson: Analyze the causes and effects of the War of 1812.
War...What is it Good For?
Dale Shaw
Description of Lesson: Students will examine primary documents regarding the War of 1812 and in groups, make an educated assessment of one of the causes of the War of 1812.
Debate Over Indian Removal
Jessica Lopez
Description of Lesson: Students will read primary source documents and understand both sides of the debate over Indian Removal in North Carolina in the 1830s.
Was John Brown a Terrorist or a Hero?
Lauren Eleuteri
Description of Lesson: In this lesson, students will thoroughly examine the life and actions of avid abolitionist John Brown. Focusing on his actions during Bleeding Kansas and Harper’s Ferry, students will decide if his actions were justified or too extreme. Through readings, video clips and discussion, students will gather enough information to write a persuasive paper answering the question, “Was John Brown crazy?” (for high school students, their paper should answer the question, “Was John Brown a Terrorist or a Hero?”)
On the Road to War or Peace
Lauren Eleuteri
Description of Lesson: In this lesson students will examine the three major political compromises and legislation passed in the time directly preceding the Civil War. After reading the Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and Compromise of 1850, students will complete a chart outlining the provisions of each compromise, whether the student thought it favored slave or free states, and a prediction about how the compromise affected the onset of the war.
N.C. and the Expansion of the County's Railroads
Joe Newton
Description of Lesson: The Wilmington to Weldon RR was once the longest RR in the world. This would spur on growth in that realm of transportation that would eventually lead to the construction of the Transcontinental RR. Students will examine both the Wilmington/Weldon and Transcontinental RR as they learn the importance of RR's to the nation's growth during the 19th century.
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