Early U.S.

History Review
Founding Documents, American Ideals & Core Values!
Evaluating the Early Years of the U.S.
Unit Guide
Essential Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

What are the foundational documents of our nation?

What are Core Democratic Values and why are they important?
How have we done as a nation in reaching our ideals?
How are we doing today in achieving our ideals?

Michigan Standards
F1 Political and Intellectual Transformations of America to 1877
F2 Describe the major Geographic, Economic, Social, and Demographic
Trends in America prior to 1877
F1.1 Identify the core ideals of American society as reflected in the documents below and analyze the
ways that American society moved toward and/or away from its core ideals:
Declaration of Independence
the U.S. Constitution (including the Preamble)
Bill of Rights
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
F1.2 Using the American Revolution, the creation and adoption of the Constitution, and the Civil War
as touchstones, develop an argument/narrative about the changing character of American political
society and the roles of key individuals across cultures in prompting/supporting the change
F2.1 Describe the major trends and transformations in American life prior to 1877 including:
changing political boundaries of the United States
regional economic differences and similarities, including goods produced and nature of labor force
changes in the size, location, and composition of the population
patterns of immigration and migration
development of cities
changes in commerce, transportation, and communication
major changes in Foreign Affairs marked by such events as the War of 1812, the Mexican-American
War, and foreign relations during the Civil War

You will be able to:

Identify Core Democratic Values & evaluate their impact and effectiveness in
both the past and present;
Identify and explain the importance of the following documents: the Declaration
of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and the 13th, 14th and 15th
Amendments.
Evaluate the growth and expansion of the United States in relationship to our
Ideals and Core Democratic Values.
Identify the major trends and transformations in American life prior to 1877
including:
o changes in political boundaries,
regional economic differences and similarities, including goods produced
and nature of labor force
changes in the size, location, and composition of the population
patterns of immigration and migration

development of cities
changes in commerce, transportation, and communication
major events like the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and foreign
the Civil War

Focus Questions:
1. What is the purpose of the following documents: Declaration of Independence, the
Constitution and Bill of Rights?
2. What was the purpose of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments?
3. What are Core Democratic Values? Where do we get Core Democratic Values?
4. How have we done as a nation in accomplishing our CDVs and American Ideals?

Discussion Group Questions:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Why do people form governments?

How should societies settle disputes?
Which right do you think is the most important and why?
Which right do you think we have come the closest to achieving?
Which right do you think needs the most work?

Key Early U.S. History Terms:

(You should be able to identify, use and explain

these terms at the end of the unit)

abolition movement
Confederacy
Legislative
Branch
amendment
Constitution
Louisiana
Purchase
anti-federalist
Declaration of Independence Manifest Destiny
Articles of Confederation
Emancipation Proclamation
Monroe
Doctrine
Bill of Rights
Executive Branch
Nationalism
Black Codes
Federalist
Reconstruction
Checks & Balances
Fifteenth Amendment
Sectionalism
Civil War
Fourteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment
Common Sense
Judicial Branch
War of 1812

Resources:

Reading, Questions & Reviews: Textbook United States History & Geography
Modern Times, pages 1-85; Chapters 1, Creating A Nation
Online: Variety of online resources both in the Online Textbook and on the
Class Page like: links to games, recorded teachings and PowerPoints.
MEYOUR TEACHER: Dont forget to ask me questions, both about the units
content or about strategies for learning.