The New Nation (1783-1815)

Constitutional Issues

• Road to the Constitutional Convention: This lesson will focus on the various problems under the Articles of Confederation between 1783 and 1786 that led to the call for the 1787 Convention.
• Analyzing the Great Compromise: How could our Founding Fathers balance the needs of the states as we created a national government?
• Articles of Confederation: How could our Founding Fathers best meet the governing needs of the various factions after the Revolutionary War?
• Conflicts over Ratifying the Constitution: Guided Reading
• Our Constitution: Bill of Rights
• Marbury v. Madison: This lesson is designed to help students understand Marshall’s strategy in issuing his decision, the significance of the concept of judicial review, and the language of this watershed case.
• Nat Turner: Was Nat Turner a hero or a madman?

Women in the Early Republic

• Women’s Lives in Early America

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists and Jeffersonians

Slavery in the Early Republic

• Jefferson and Slavery

Economic Issues in the Early Republic

• Battle over the Bank: Jefferson vs. Madison

Indians in the Early Republic

• Indian Removal: Why did the people in the 1830s support indian removal?

Immigration / Expansion in a New Nation

• Irish Immigration: Were the Irish considered white in the 19th century?
• Texas Independence: Why did the Texans declare independence from Mexico in 1836?
• Manifest Destiny: How did Americans justify Manifest Destiny?
• The Louisiana Purchase: Why did Federalists oppose the Louisiana purchase?
• Louis and Clark: Were Lewis and Clack respectful to the Native Americans they encountered?

War of 1812 / Foreign Affairs in the Early Republic

• Madison’s War Letter: The decision to go to war is one of the most serious an American president faces. On June 1, 1812, President Madison sent a letter—later dubbed his war message—to both houses of Congress.
• Monroe Doctrine and Foreign Affairs: In this lesson, students will review the Monroe Doctrine against a background of United States foreign relations in the early years of the republic.
• US and its Relationship with Britain: This lesson will examine the ways in which Great Britain challenged American sovereignty.