Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 366-384
Chapter 12: The Age of Jackson
Section 1: Politics of the People
Section 2: Jackson’s Policy Toward Native Americans
Before Starting:
1. Before Reading - on page 374: One major event that changed America forever was when president Andrew
Jackson forced Native Americans to move ______.
2. “Why it Matters Now” on page 369: Jackson’s use of ______laid the
foundation of the modern presidency
3. What does the phrase “Jacksonian Democracy” mean?
4. What is “the spoils system?” Why can it be good? Why can it be bad?
5. Whydid Jackson believe the government had the right to decide where Native Americans could live?
6. Why is the journey of the Cherokee to Indian Territory known as “The Trail of Tears?”
7. Our government told Indians where they had to live. Should our government be able to tell you where you have to
go to school? Why / Why not?
7. What might be one situation today where people may be pressured to move either from a place or to a new place?
8. Name one President you think was a strong leader (and why) and one who you think was a weak leader (and why)
8. Andrew Jackson is thought of as being a strong leader. What would be at least three things you feel makes
someone a strong leader? They don’t have to be president – just three traits of someone who’s a strong leader?
9. One of our 6 essential questions this year is: How does the Constitution “live” in our society? Write a question
about the Constitution and Andrew Jackson (this may be harder than answering one). You’ll want to consider
combining Andrew Jackson with Indian removal.
Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 390-399
Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny
Section 1: Trails West
Before Starting:
1. In red on page 393: Some of the first people to move to the west were called ______
2. From the map on page 395: What’s one of the trails you’ve already heard about? ______
3. This is also the time in history when the ______moved west (in red on page 397)
4. What motivated Mountain Men?
5. What economic and social forces drew people to the west? What kinds of stories encouraged people to make the
journey to places like Oregon?
6. What might daily life on the trail west be like (3 facts)?
7. Why did Brigham Young lead the Mormons to Utah?
8. From the map on page 395: Which trail would you have taken west and why that one?
9. If I was moving west, I’d rather travel alone / with my family (pick one) because…
9. Which would be two of the main things you’d hear about that might finally convince you that you’d want to move
west in the 1800s.
10. The people who moved west had it TOUGH.
- What’s the hardest thing you ever tried (something that was involved and took quite a while to do)?
- Did things end up working out the way you wanted them to?
- So, would you now say that was a good experience or a bad one… and why?
10. One of our 6 essential questions is: Why is “where” important? Write a question about the west and “why”
wherewas important.
Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 400-405
Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny
Section 2: The Texas Revolution
BeforeStarting:
1. Look at page A28 in the back of the book. Mexico used to include all the lands that today are American states of
______.
2. You’ve already heard about some of this section. Both pictures on pages 402/403 involve the ______
3. One thing I already know about Texas is: ______
4. What Made Texas land so desirable? Why did Americans want to move to Texas? Why did the Spanish
governments want to attract settlers to Texas?
5. Eventually, how did Mexicans feel about all the Americans moving to Texas?
6. What happened at the Battle of the Alamo?
7. After independence what did most Texans want from the United States?
8. After independence, most Texans wanted to be added to the United States. What might be two things other
countries today might want from United States?
8. I predict…. After this, the next thing that will happen involving Texas, Mexico, and the United States is….
9. Have you ever had a time where you were in someone else’s house, or placeand were asked to live by their rules –
which might not have been rules where you were from? Did you do what they asked – or what you wanted to do?
Did that cause any problems? If not, make up a situation that could happen.
Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 406-411
Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny
Section 3: The War with Mexico
Before Starting
1 and 2. Today, find 2 things you’re reading about that connect or compare to anything going on between the United
States and Mexico today.
3. On page 406 (Why it Matters Now): Today, ______of all Americans live in the areas added to the United
States in 1848
4. What is meant by “Manifest Destiny?”
5. What is one positive and one negative aspect of the idea of “manifest destiny?”
6. How did war with Mexico begin? How did the American public react to the war with Mexico?
7. What were some results (3+) of the Mexican-American War
8. What problems were faced by Mexicans living in the United States after the Mexican-American War?
8. What should we do? Today, one-third of all Americans live in what used to be Mexico. Every reason that they
lost half their country goes back to Americans being somewhat responsible. When Mexicans want to move to the
United States today, should they be allowed to? Is there a fairor practical solution?
9. If we decided to annex Iraq to the United States, how would the rest of the Arab world feel about losing their
lands? What do you think they may do?
9. One of our 6 essential questions this year is: How has American life been influenced by economic and political
forces? Right after the Mexican Cession, what do you think America thought was it’s role in North American and
the world?
Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 412-417
Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny
Section 4: The California Gold Rush
Before Starting:
1. On page 412: Why it Matters Now: The gold rush made California grow rapidly and helped bring about
California’s ______
2. On page 414: There’s a picture of a new product that was useful at this time: ______
3. One thing I notice from the picture on page 415 is: ______
______
4. What happened in 1848/1849 in California? What does that mean?
5. What was life like in the mining camps and why was it like that?
6. What impact did the goldrush have on the economy of California?
7. What were three negative results of the gold rush?
8. What impact of the state of California had on the slavery issue in the United States?
9. Why do you think the state government made mining harder for foreigners?
9. Why do you think many 49ers didn’t become rich?
10. Do you plan on playing the lotto when you’re 18? How much would you be willing to spend each week? If you
don’t want to, why won’t you play?
10. How much money would you have to make to consider yourself successful or to have wanted to live a lifestyle
like these 49ers had to live to get rich?
11. What kind of specific opportunity would it take for you to pack up everything you own, leave where you live, and
never come back?
11. One of our 6 essential questions this year is: How has American life been influenced by economic and political
forces? Write a question about the nations economy in 1849 and the gold rush.
Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 420-428 and Pages 433-437
Chapter 14: A New Spirit of Change
Section 1: The Hopes of Immigrants
Section 3: Reforming American Society
Before Starting:
1. Main idea on 423: In the 1800’s millions of ______came to the United States.
2. On the chart on page 425, about 2/3 of all immigrants at this time were from ______and
______
3. From page 424, What factors pushed immigrants out of their native lands?
4. From page 424, What factors pulled emigrants to the United States?
5. Why did immigrants (such as the Irish) settle primarily in cities? And, what would they do when they got there?
6. How did the rapid increase in immigration cause conflicts, such as prejudice?
7. These are ways people (including politicians) were trying to offer help to help all people, including immigrants:
a. temperance movements:
b. workers rights/working conditions:
c. educational opportunities for women:
d. African-Americans who wanted an education:
e. mentally ill, the disabled, and prisoners:
8. What would be two reasons (good or bad) the people living in America may not want immigrants coming here?
8. As far as you know when did your family ancestors first come to America? Where did they come from? If you
don’t know, ask someone at home.
9. Your school is where you work every day. Who would be two groups of people who should be working to
improve schools?
9. One of our 6 essential questions this year is: What is revolutionary change? What would be your reform
movement focus today? What’s something you feel needs some kind of revolutionary change for the better in a
way that you have ideas about or would be willing to help?
Unit 4: A Changing Nation Pages 440-445
Chapter 14: A New Spirit of Change
Section 4: Abolition and Women’s Rights
Before Starting:
1. True or False? Some slaves escaping on the “Underground Railroad” may have even come through Barrington.
2. Very top of page 440 (title): The 2 groups getting the most attention at this time for fighting for equal rights and
overall respect were: ______and ______
3. Who were some of the prominent abolitionists (3 of them)?
4. What were some ways (at least 3) that people tried to “fight” against slavery?
5. How did the Underground Railroad operate?
6. Who’s probably the most famous figure of the Underground Railroad?
7. Why was the Seneca Falls Convention so important to women in the 1800’s?
8. Why do you think escaped slaves such as Brown, Douglas, and Tubman risked their lives to help free others?
8. Why do you think the many of the people who fought for abolition also fought for women’s rights?
9. Pick a group you feel is being discriminated against in someway today. What would be one thing that may be able
to do to try to help them and that discrimination?
9. One of our 6 essential questions this year is: Is the American dream available to everyone? What groups of people
in our country have the least amount of rights today? What should they get that they don’t have? Do you think this
can actually happen?