Social Studies Curriculum

Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)

Approximate Unit Length: 7 weeks

Text:
Creating America: A
History of the United
States, Beginning
through
Reconstruction
(McDougal Littell) © 2005

National Standards for
History:

Era 4
Expansion and Reform
(1801-1861)

Standard 1 A - C;
Standard 2 A - E;
Standard 3 A, B;
Standard 4 A - C

Alaska Content Standards:
History A-D;
Government and
Citizenship A - G

The students will understand that:

1. Expansion and/or change occur whenever a new power reigns.
2. Although slavery was a significant issue that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War, it was not the only or main issue.
3. States’ rights v. federal authority (strong v. weak central government) have been a contentious point throughout America’s history.

1. To what extent did territorial expansion affect Native Americans and international relations?
2. To what extent did economic, geographic, and social forces lure people westward?
3. How do emerging nations grow geographically, economically, socially, politically, and culturally?
4. Why did regional tensions lead to the Civil War?
5. To what extent could the Civil War have been avoided?