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How did American democracy change in the years following the War of 1812?
What effects did those changes have on Natives, enslaved people, and women?
How did elections change during those years?
What national policies came from those years that affected America during the next century?
Description
For the rest of the class we are going to explore themes in American history and the time periods in which they occurred. Our first theme in changes in democracy in America. This will focus on the years from 1815 to 1840. This was a time of rapid change in all aspects of American life - politics, economy, foreign policy, slavery, suffrage - it was all changing quickly. Just how those changes contributed to the long term views of Americans is still up for debate, but we are going to some exploring.
Objectives
Students will identify and describe key events of this time period.
Students will create evidences of learning connected to this time period.
Special instructions
- Because of the school closure, there is no printed copy of this assignment.
- Choose the two essay topics you want to explore from the list below.
- Copy and paste just those two topics into your Google doc for the week beginning 4/7.
- Plagiarism Warning >> Your essays must be in your own words. The best thing you can do is to really learn about your topic, don't just start typing and try to change words around. Yuck. Take time to learn.
- AND >> You are NOT LIMITED to the textbook. Feel free to use resources of your own to learn about your topic.
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Assignment Question List
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- Describe the changing roles of American women during the time period 1815 - 1840.
- How did the attitudes about schooling for girls change during this time period?
- What was the idea of Republican Motherhood? How did change the debate about slavery?
- What was the focus of girls’ education during this time?
- Why do you believe college education for women was difficult to obtain at that time?
- Explain the Era of Good Feelings. What was it? How did it differ from previous decades?
- What was the Panic of 1819? What caused it?
- What was the connection between the demands for specie and the Panic of 1819?
- How did the Napoleonic Wars affect the Panic of 1819.
- How were farmers affected by the Panic of 1819?
- How did people hope tariffs would help resolve the Panic of 1819?
- What was determined about slavery in the Louisiana Territory?
- What made the Election of 1824 unique in American history?
- What was the ‘corrupt bargain’? How did it come to be?
- Explain John Quincy Adams’ positions on tariffs.
- What was the American System of economics? On what was it based?
- Why did voter interest in national politics increase during the Jackson Presidency?
- What was Manifest Destiny?
- Who was Richard Lawrence? What did he attempt to do? What was the outcome of his attempt?
- What was the case of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia about? Why was it important?
- Explain the history of the Trail of Tears.
- Why did suffrage increase during this time?
- Why were some people disenfranchised?
- What was the purpose for the Second Bank of the United States?
- What specific steps did Jackson take against the Second Bank of the United States? What came about as a result of his actions?
- What were the common arguments for and against slavery?
- What was a common criticism of abolition?
- What factors contributed to the Panic of 1837?
- How did the demand for specie contribute to the Panic of 1837?
Essay Questions
Each of these questions will require a couple of paragraphs. Again, be contextual.
Explain the intent of the Missouri Compromise. What issues were involved? Why was the balance of slave and free states so critical?
The Monroe Doctrine remained one of the central parts of the foreign policy of the United States for about 160 years. In many ways it is still with us today. Explain what it is and why President Monroe initiated it.
Explain the rise of the Second Party System. How did it begin? What powered its continuance?
What made the political parties of the time powerful? What weakened them?
Jackson enlarged the spoils system. What was it and how did use it to reward his supporters?
Explain the background and consequences of the Nullification Crisis. Why was it so important to the survival of the nation? Some historians say it was a precursor to the Civil War. Why might that be the case?
Andrew Jackson carried a lifelong disdain for much that was associated with Britain. What happened during the Revolutionary War that may have contributed to his feelings?
Explain the Indian Removal Act. Why was it passed? What were the consequences for the Natives as well as for the Americans?
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Essay Topics
 Roles of Women, begin on p.7
In what ways did the roles of American women change from 1815 - 1840? Consider the schooling for girls, Republican Motherhood, why do you think it was difficult for women to attend college during this time?
The Panic of 1819, begin on p.12
Identify four factors that contributed to the Panic of 1819.
Identify five proposed remedies.
How were farmers affected by the Panic of 1819?
Missouri Compromise, or Compromise of 1820, begin on p.16
Describe the Missouri Compromise. What made it so important? How did it solve one set of problems and create another? What was determined about slavery in the Louisiana Territory?
Monroe Doctrine, begin on p.19
What are the two basic concepts behind the Monroe Doctrine?
How has it shaped America’s relationship with other nations?
Jackson’s Presidency, begin on p. 27
Why did voter interest in national politics increase during the Jackson Presidency? Briefly xxplain the five basic principles of Jacksonian Democracy.
The Nullification Crisis, begin on p. 36
How did the Nullification Crisis illustrate the different views between state authority and federal authority? How did this relate to later questions about slavery and the onset of the Civil War?
American Policy Toward Native Americans, begin on p. 38
What was the point of the Indian Removal Bill of 1830? What was the case of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia about? Why was it important? Explain the history of the Trail of Tears.
Changes in Enfranchisement, begin on p. 44
Why did suffrage increase during this time? What forced changes in it? How did property laws influence who could vote? Why were some people disenfranchised?
Second Bank of the United States, begin on p. 45
What was the purpose for the Second Bank of the United States? What specific steps did Jackson take against the Second Bank of the United States? What came about as a result of his actions?
Slavery, begin on p. 47
What were the common arguments for and against slavery? What was a common criticism of abolition? What led to the strength of slavery in the South? How did northern and southern responses to slavery differ?
The Panic of 1837, begin on p. 49
What factors contributed to the Panic of 1837? How did the demand for specie contribute to the Panic of 1837? How did the policies of Jackson and Van Buren contribute to the panic? What were the effects of the Panic of 1837 on the North? What about the South?
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