Lesson Plans

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

by Faragher, Buhle, Czitrom, and Armitage

Focus Lesson 8

Chapter 10: "The Growth of Democracy, 1824–1840"

AP* Course Description

• Election of 1824: End of Virginia Dynasty
• Economic Revolution
  • Early railroads and canals
  • Expansion of business
    • Beginnings of factory system
• Age of Jackson, 1828–1848
  • Democracy and the "common man"
    • Expansion of suffrage
    • Rotation in office
  • Second party system
    • Democratic Party
    • Whig Party
  • Internal improvements and states' rights and the Maysville Road veto
  • The Nullification Crisis
    • Tariff issue
    • The Union: Calhoun and Jackson
  • The Bank War: Jackson and Biddle
  • Martin Van Buren
    • Independent treasury system
    • Panic of 1837
• Economic revolution
  • Early railroads and canals
• Creating an American Culture
  • National literature, art, architecture
  • Cultural nationalism

Key Components

• Instructor's Manual: pp. 48–53
• Study Guide, Vol. I to 1877: pp. 85–94
• Documents Set, Vol. I to 1877: pp. 121–135
• Test Item File: pp. 84–93

Key Web Sites

• Biography of Andrew Jackson
• Route 40— National Road
• Trail of Tears—North Georgia History
• Thomas Cole's Paintings

Key Words and Terms

Suggested Pacing

Test Strategy

Key Concepts

• Sectional tensions
  As the country prospered, sectional divisions became apparent in the period after Jefferson's administration. The regions divided along economic and thus political lines. Have students reread p. 280 and begin listing the events that contributed to sectional tensions. Assist students in seeing the connection between the Kentucky and Virginia Resolves, the Hartford Convention, internal improvements, and the nullification crisis in South Carolina.
  
  
• Enlargement of the franchise and the development of a permanent two-party system
  While much is made of the enlargement of the franchise during the "Age of Jackson," many were still unable to vote—women, free and enslaved African Americans, and Native Americans. However, it is important to note the influence of frontier expansion on a more egalitarian view of people. Since more people were able to vote, political parties became more important. The permanent two-party system owes its existence in large part to this period. (See Summing Up Student Understanding below for an activity on the franchise and the two-party system.)
  
  
• Development of the new American national identity
  As students learned in Chapter 9, expansion westward and the War of 1812 changed the character of American society and helped to create a national identity. Have students review the final section of Chapter 8 on American culture and draw connections between the information in that chapter and the information in Chapter 10 on the new American cultural identity.
  
  

Summing Up Student Understanding

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• American Issues: Vol. I to 1877, edited by Unger and Tomes—Chapters 8 and 10
• The Power of Words: Vol. I to 1877, edited by Breen—Chapter 11
• American Experiences: Volume I to 1877, edited by Roberts and Olson (secondary source readings)—Part Five