Lesson Plans

Out of Many: A History of the American People ©2000

by Faragher, Buhle, Czitrom, and Armitage

Focus Lesson 6

Chapter 8: "The United States of North America, 1786–1800"

AP* Course Description

• Constitution and New Republic, 1776–1800
  • Philadelphia Convention: Drafting the Constitution
  • Federalists versus Anti-Federalists
  • Bill of Rights
  • Washington's presidency
    • Hamilton's financial program
    • Foreign and domestic difficulties
    • Beginnings of political parties
  • John Adams's presidency
    • Alien and Sedition Acts
    • XYZ affair
    • Election of 1800

Key Components

• Instructor's Manual: pp. 37–41
• Study Guide, Vol. I to 1877: pp. 67–76
• Documents Set, Vol. I to 1877: pp. 91–104
• Test Item File: pp. 64–73

Key Web Sites

• Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government
• Oyez U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia Database
• U.S. Capitol Virtual Tour

Key Words and Terms

Suggested Pacing

Test Strategy

Key Concepts

• The development of the federal Constitution
  Students should be able to build on their understanding from the previous chapter and connect the problems of government from the time of the Revolutionary War—especially in terms of the tensions between local and national authorities, to the call for a new national constitution. Students should be able to answer questions such as: Why were the Articles of Confederation considered too weak? Which group wanted to keep the Confederation and why? Who supported a new constitution? What were the motives of the Framers of the new federal Constitution? How did economics play a part in these deliberations?
  
  
• The importance of Washington's presidency
  A major accomplishment of Washington's presidency was the stabilization of the new nation. After reading Chapter 8, students should be able to discuss how Washington dealt with the struggle for control of the national government in incidents such as the Whiskey Rebellion and why he selected such diverse men as Jefferson and Hamilton to serve in his cabinet. Students should also be able to list the precedents that Washington established during his terms in office.
  
  
• The development of political parties
  The "accidental" development of political parties dates to the administration of Washington. Students should understand how this division along ideological lines began. To help students keep track of the rise and fall of political parties, have them start a list of parties, their dates, why each coalesced around an important personality or issue, why each declined, and important figures in each party. This information will help students in understanding the emergence of third parties and will also provide examples should students have to write an essay on political parties.
  
  

Summing Up Student Understanding

BIOGRAPHY BOOK REVIEW Select a biography of someone who is of interest to you from the period of exploration through Reconstruction. A book review requires that you interpret, critically analyze, and evaluate the contents of the book, including accuracy, point of view, style, and interest. Examples of book reviews can be found in the entertainment or arts section of the Sunday edition of the newspaper. A book review is composed of four basic parts. A brief summary of the book's contents Identification of the method of treatment, e.g., thematic or chronological, popular or scholarly writing style Critical analysis, which includes a statement of the author's biases and position, and how well and by what means the author supported his or her position The reader's personal reflections, e.g., what impact the book had on you the reader, and how it confirmed or changed your thinking about the subject ASSIGNMENT You need to show me the book you want to read by _____________. Your book review should include: title author publisher and copyright year the four basic parts listed above and should be no less than two typed pages, double-spaced, and no more than three typed pages, double-spaced. The book review is due ___________.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• American Issues: Vol. I to 1877, edited by Unger and Tomes—Chapters 6 and 7
• The Power of Words: Vol. I to 1877, edited by Breen—Chapters 7 and 8
• Constructing the American Past, Vol. I, edited by Gorn, Roberts, and Bilhartz—Chapter 6