03: The New Nation

03: The New Nation

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Louisiana Purchase | Stanford History Education Group
Louisiana Purchase | Stanford History Education Group
The purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in October 1803 doubled the size of the United States and foreshadowed its emergence as a global power. The purchase marked an unprecedented use of executive power by President Thomas Jefferson and evoked strong resistance from Federalists. In this lesson, a timeline of the purchase along with letters by Federalist leaders help students decide whether practical concerns or political agendas motivated the opposition.
Louisiana Purchase | Stanford History Education Group
Lewis and Clark | Stanford History Education Group
Lewis and Clark | Stanford History Education Group
In this Structured Academic Controversy (SAC), students read five documents that give different accounts of how Lewis and Clark treated the Native Americans they met on their expedition. Students are assigned to teams to locate evidence to support or refute the claim that Lewis and Clark were respectful to Native Americans. Students present their evidence to the opposing side and then come to a consensus on an answer to the central historical question.
Lewis and Clark | Stanford History Education Group
Shays' Rebellion | Stanford History Education Group
Shays' Rebellion | Stanford History Education Group
Shays' Rebellion is often regarded as the event that led Americans to want a stronger central government, but the story is not so simple. Opinions on the rebellion and the power of government varied, often along class lines. In this lesson, students will gain a more nuanced understanding of how Americans reacted to Shays' Rebellion by analyzing a textbook account and a letter by Thomas Jefferson
Shays' Rebellion | Stanford History Education Group
Preamble - IC - We the People
Preamble - IC - We the People
Two articles from the Constitution Center discuss, in concise form, two different interpretations of the Preamble to the Constitution and it's importance.
Preamble - IC - We the People
The American remembrancer : or, An impartial co...
The American remembrancer : or, An impartial co...
People in Morristown NJ had strong objections to Jay's Treaty - great for New Jersey teachers who want to bring local primary source documents can use this.
The American remembrancer : or, An impartial co...
America's Founding Preambles Resource | iCivics
America's Founding Preambles Resource | iCivics
Learn how the American idea of government evolved from a revolutionary response to monarchy to a unified nation. The sources will illustrate the effort taken to reach “a more perfect union” through a close read of our founding documents. Students will dig into the preambles and introductory text of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.
America's Founding Preambles Resource | iCivics
Kevin Gannon on Twitter / X
Kevin Gannon on Twitter / X
This is what historical conversation looks like in Twitter today. US History teachers have a lesson right here
Kevin Gannon on Twitter / X
Avalon Project - The Barbary Treaties 1786-1816 - Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796
Avalon Project - The Barbary Treaties 1786-1816 - Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796
Any discussion of the relationship between religion and government should include reference to this treaty which was begun under the administration of George Washington, signed by John Adams, and ratified by the US Senate without one vote against it. Here's the vote tally - https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/5-1/s8
Avalon Project - The Barbary Treaties 1786-1816 - Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796
To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 October 1787
To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 October 1787
This is James Madison telling Thomas Jefferson, and history teachers in the 21st century what went on in the Constitutional Convention. Notice his statement that it was the fear of popularly elected state legislatures that had more to do with the calling of a Constitutional Convention than the failures of the Articles of Confederation. US History Instructional materials teach the opposite
To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 October 1787
Thomas Jefferson to Francis C. Gray, 4 March 1815
Thomas Jefferson to Francis C. Gray, 4 March 1815
In this letter, Jefferson shows the process through which he can calculate the "whiteness" of successive generations of children borne by white fathers and black mothers (ie slave owners and their slaves). By this math, he can argue that the seven children he had with his slave Sally Hemmings were white. Yet this also means that his seven children borne of a slave count as 4 and 2/10s white people toward the calculation of Virginia's representation in Congress.
Thomas Jefferson to Francis C. Gray, 4 March 1815
To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 6 October 1800
To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 6 October 1800
Straightforward evidence of a founding father proclaiming an absolute division between religion and government. Look at how he closes this letter - what should a student think about this as a primary document?
To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 6 October 1800
The Press, the Propagandists, and the Election of 1800 | The New Yorker
The Press, the Propagandists, and the Election of 1800 | The New Yorker
Instead of having students read the textbook for a explanation of the election of 1800 - why not have them read this article from the New Yorker? It includes many quotes from newspapers of the time and provides a much more visceral illustration of the election than anything that can be found in any textbook. Teachers fielding any complaints about using "The New Yorker" can ask those who raise such concerns to search the author's name.
The Press, the Propagandists, and the Election of 1800 | The New Yorker
From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 7 May 1800
From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 7 May 1800
Efforts by the Republican led legislature of Wisconsin to rip the incoming Democratic governor of power are not so much of an aberration when compared to Hamilton's efforts to overturn the electoral vote of the State of New York in the election of 1800. If students can't recognize the subtlety of that connection, they should at least be exposed to the language Hamilton uses to describe Jefferson
From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 7 May 1800
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: The Search for Truth - WallBuilders
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: The Search for Truth - WallBuilders
Teachers can share this article with students and ask them to draw conclusions first from looking at the site and the url. Is there anything about both that telegraphs the thesis - what about the title. Teachers can use this site to show the means through which historical understandings that have become commonly accepted by a broad cross-section of the professionally accredited and respected academic community of historians can still be questioned. Why does this type of writing work to convince the reader of an untruth?
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: The Search for Truth - WallBuilders
Examples of Historical Thinking - Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress - Reading the Document - YouTube
Examples of Historical Thinking - Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress - Reading the Document - YouTube
Historian Leah Glaser analyzes a letter to the U.S. Congress from Thomas Jefferson requesting funding for the Lewis and Clark expedition. In this letter, Jefferson explains his rationale and his vision for the future of the country. Glaser models several historical thinking skills,
Examples of Historical Thinking - Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress - Reading the Document - YouTube
Sam Wang on Twitter: "Actually, no. For example, in 2016 the minimum number of jurisdictions needed to reach Hillary Clinton’s popular majority was 39 states plus DC. But let’s get serious. Let’s review origins, consequences, & flaws of the Electoral Coll
Sam Wang on Twitter: "Actually, no. For example, in 2016 the minimum number of jurisdictions needed to reach Hillary Clinton’s popular majority was 39 states plus DC. But let’s get serious. Let’s review origins, consequences, & flaws of the Electoral Coll
This Twitter thread lists factual data and includes charts that make claims about the Electoral college, showing its origins as a concession to slave owning states and its modern effects of amplifying the votes of just 6 states to the expense of the other 44
Sam Wang on Twitter: "Actually, no. For example, in 2016 the minimum number of jurisdictions needed to reach Hillary Clinton’s popular majority was 39 states plus DC. But let’s get serious. Let’s review origins, consequences, & flaws of the Electoral Coll
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) on Twitter: "The original Electoral College died in the early nineteenth century. It was replaced by a system that has crippled democracy. It is not radical to reexamine it; such a reexamination is just what the Framers would
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) on Twitter: "The original Electoral College died in the early nineteenth century. It was replaced by a system that has crippled democracy. It is not radical to reexamine it; such a reexamination is just what the Framers would
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) on Twitter: "The original Electoral College died in the early nineteenth century. It was replaced by a system that has crippled democracy. It is not radical to reexamine it; such a reexamination is just what the Framers would
George Washington's Farewell Address: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)
George Washington's Farewell Address: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)
Teacher's using the farewell address should point out that although many of us talk about the Farewell Address being ONLY Washington's thoughts should acknowledge that there is enough evidence supporting the claim that Hamilton wrote much of it that even the Library of Congress acknowledges it
George Washington's Farewell Address: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)
1790: Hamilton's Report on Debt
1790: Hamilton's Report on Debt
This shows that the national debt of the government of the United States was $40 million in 1790. This was one of four reports of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton
1790: Hamilton's Report on Debt
Boston 1775: Moving into a Harvard Dormitory in 1785
Boston 1775: Moving into a Harvard Dormitory in 1785
Add this to the list of "primary documents your students can relate with". If any of them have taken an older sibling to college and helped them move in or they have older friends they've heard stories about what it was like to move into college. In this letter, they can read what it was like for the son of John Adams
Boston 1775: Moving into a Harvard Dormitory in 1785
Federalist No 65 - Hamilton on Impeachment (Article)
Federalist No 65 - Hamilton on Impeachment (Article)
Most of the essay deals with the propriety of the empowerment of the Senate to remove presidents from office and the enowerment of the House to bring Impeachment charges
Federalist No 65 - Hamilton on Impeachment (Article)
Annette Gordon-Reed | Teaching Hard History: American Slavery, Key Concept 3 - YouTube
Annette Gordon-Reed | Teaching Hard History: American Slavery, Key Concept 3 - YouTube

Scholar Annette Gordon-Reed explores how the Constitution, written when slavery was seen as a “dying institution,” actually protected the institution and allowed enslavers to aggressively defend its expansion. Key Concept 3: Protections for slavery were embedded in the founding documents; enslavers dominated the federal government, Supreme Court and Senate from 1787 through 1860.

Annette Gordon-Reed | Teaching Hard History: American Slavery, Key Concept 3 - YouTube