Terms to Know:

Episode 4: Division
Before or after watching this episode,
Introduction
encourage students to define and
review the terms below. Students
America becomes a nation just as a revolution in commerce and
may also want to make their own
industry sweeps across the western world. This vast new country,
lists of new vocabulary words and
rich in resources, experiences rapid changes – in trade, transport
identification terms as they watch.
and manufacturing – and America quickly turns into one of the
wealthiest nations on earth.
Abolitionism
Aristocracy The Erie Canal creates a vital pathway through the nation in 1825,
Cotton gin New York City booms, the factory town of Lowell becomes the cradle
Espionage of the American industrial revolution and in the South the cotton gin
Industrialism streamlines the process of separating seeds from the fibers and sets
Ingenious off a manufacturing explosion.
Ravine
Rupture
Textile

Though some are united in prosperity, the United States is divided by

culture, and the crisis over whether to allow slavery to spread reach-
es a breaking point. There are violent clashes in Kansas. John Brown
carries out a suicidal mission to try to end slavery in Virginia in 1859.
He fails. After the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, war seems
inevitable.
America The Story of Us is useful for American
History, Social Studies, and Media courses. It is
appropriate for 7th grade students and above,
and is an excellent resource for professional
development.
Discussion Questions:
1. W
 hy did U.S. leaders want to build the Erie Canal? How did the canal change
the U.S.?

2. S
 ome historians refer to the increase in highways and roads in the U.S. during the
19th century as a “transportation revolution.” How did the addition of many more
roads and highways affect the U.S.?

3. W
 hen was the Fugitive Slave Act passed, and what were the consequences of
this law?

4. In this episode, a commentator says that the Civil War played a role in ad-
vancing U.S. industrial progress. Can you give an example that proves this
argument?

5. D
 efine the word “inevitable” – what does this word mean? Do you think the
Civil War was inevitable?

America The STory of Us Episode 4: Division 2

 ©2010 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. 01601.
Primary Source:

Excerpt from “The Book

of Daniel Drew”

baron
a u to b io g ra phy of cattle Further Explorations:
om the ribes the
rt excerpt fr w. Drew desc
This is a sho D re What else was going on during this time
ker D a n ie l
all Street bro War. period? Explore the sites below to learn more
and early W to th e o n se t of the Civil about the era of U.S. history covered in this
ew York state episode.
reaction in N r a spell
k e o u t, I w asn’t sure fo Learn more about the significance of the
bro t was
ivil War finally to it or not...I
Indian Removal Act
“When the C York S ta te g o in www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/In-
anted to see ar and
whether I w th e r to g o in for the W dian.html
h e and
to decide, w u rselves free
a hard thing y out a n d m a ke o Read about the Missouri Compromise
Union, or sta www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/
stand by the
speech at Missouri.html
independen
t.
e w Y o rk and made a
coln came to
N on of
But Abe Lin to w a rd s th e preservati Andrew Jackson’s “Bank War”
d people voice,
www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2008-01/
n. That turne ch. Lincoln’s KingAndrewandtheBank.html
Cooper Unio of a st u m p sp e e
r talker.
wasn’t much him a popula
the Union. It usk y to m a k e ot Florida’s Black Seminoles and the slave
y s th o u g ht, was too h p e r U n io n that night g issue in Florida
I alw a ay from Co o www.yale.edu/glc/gullah/07.htm
ho came aw Union was
B u t p e o p le w
o f st a n ding by the
at this quest
io n of that
the notion th c e ... .T h e n w hen, on top Places to Visit:
portan ch an
siderable im ter, it make su
really of con red o n F t. S u m
all Street Interested in what you saw in this episode?
shots were fi lly that we W
speech, the e o p le g e n e ra Visiting historic sites is a great way for
among the p teachers, students, and families to learn more
almighty stir e had
about the past. Explore these historic sites,
get in step. lar then, if h or look for local historic sites in your town or
men had to nv e ry u n p o p u
it out, no
uld have bee case of fight
city to visit.
A fellow wo r. It w a s n o w a
ainst the Wa The Erie Canalway National Heritage
stood out ag Corridor
the cost.”
matter what 10).
www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2008-01/
oubleday, 19 KingAndrewandtheBank.html
(New York; D
The New Bedford Whaling Museum
www.whalingmuseum.org

Lowell, Mass. National Historical Park

www.nps.gov/lowe/index.htm
Discussion Questions: National Underground Railroad Freedom
Center
www.freedomcenter.org
1. W
 hy do you think Drew was reluctant at first to see New York
support the Civil War?

2. B
 ased on Drew’s statements, why do you think New Yorkers
decided to support the Civil War effort?

America The STory of Us Episode 4: Division 3