Curriculum
The Early Republic Unit Docs
Unit Guide, Unit Storyboard, Lesson Calendar; Brief Answers for Teachers
The Early Republic Lesson One
Unit Launch; Washington Builds A New Government (Q1)
Students read the unit setting and outcome, and learn the story of the first Washington administration. They tell the story back with a four sentence story.
The Early Republic Lesson Two
Hamilton, Jefferson, and the Bank (Q1)
Students learn the story of Hamilton and Jefferson’s different visions for the country and their conflict over the Bank of the United States. They check their understanding with Because, But, So, Sentences.
The Early Republic Lesson Three
Washington Warns Against "Factions" (Q2)
Students interpret an excerpt from Washington’s farewell address, in which he warns about the perils of political parties, or “factions.”
The Early Republic Lesson Four
Federalist President John Adams (Q1)
Students learn the story of the presidency of Federalist John Adams, and tell the story back with a four sentence story.
The Early Republic Lesson Five
The Kentucky Resolutions (Q2)
Students interpret an excerpt from the “Kentucky Resolutions,” written by Thomas Jefferson.
The Early Republic Lesson Six
Democratic-Republican President Thomas Jefferson (Q1)
Students learn the story of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, and check their understanding with “Because, But, So” Sentences.
The Early Republic Lesson Seven
Marbury v. Madison (Q2)
Students interpret an excerpt from Chief Justice John Marshall’s Supreme Court Decision “Marbury v. Madison.”
The Early Republic Lesson Eight
President Madison Fights The British (Q1)
Students learn the story of the War of 1812, and tell the story back in a Four Box Storyboard.
The Early Republic Lesson Nine
President Monroe Encourages "Good Feelings" (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Monroe presidency and the “Era of Good Feelings,” then they tell the story back in a Four Sentence Story.
The Early Republic Lesson Ten
Gibbons v. Ogden (Q2)
Students interpret John Marshall’s majority opinion in “Gibbons v. Ogden.”
The Early Republic Lesson Eleven
The End of the Era of Good Feelings (Q1)
Students learn the story of the end of the “Era of Good Feelings,” and tell the story back in a Four Sentence Storyboard.
The Early Republic Lesson Twelve
Explaining the American Two Party System (Q3)
Students study data to explain why the U.S. has only two major political parties. They they write a general hypothesis, and test it on a new case: Canada.
The Early Republic Lesson Thirteen
Partisan Political Campaign Speech (Q4)
Students judge the specific case of the election of 1800 and say if they think its personal attacks were permissible. They then try to establish a general principle and test it on a new case: the Presidential Election of 2016, between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. (There is an alternate test case of a fictional school election.)