Note: This unit covers two periods of time: Jefferson's Presidency (1801-1809) and the Jacksonian Era roughly (1824-1840). You will be able to discuss two different political party systems: Republicans v. Federalists and Democrats v. Whigs.
Questions for this unit:
Why are political parties necessary in a democratic republic?
Differences between Federalists and Republicans: what makes a good republic?
How democratic was Jacksonian Democracy?
We will also take the following Pew Research Center survey "Beyond Red vs. Blue.: http://typology.people-press.org/
I. Why did political parties become necessary?
First Day: Opening about role of political parties today.
Lesson 1: The New Government and Hamilton's Financial Program
NON: Read 225 starting at the New Government. Stop at Expansion - 229 stop at The Emergence
1) Failure of Past Republics
2) What plan(s) did Hamilton put forth to solve the nation’s economic problem?
3) Who feared Hamilton’s economic program and why? Also, why are Hamilton's ideas not ones identified as the roots of American Democracy even though he cared greatly for the republic?
4) Understand the idea of strict construction.
Map: Washington DC, Potomac River
Lesson two: The First Political Parties
NON: Read pp. 229 at The Emergence of Political Parties -235 stop at "John Marshall"
1) Differing views on the French Revolution 2) Note the rise of political parties. Be sure to understand the core ideas of George Washington’s Farewell Address.
2) Note the supporters of both political parties and the outcome of the 1796 election.
3) Be sure to understand the ideologies of both parties.
4 )XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts.
2) How did Jefferson and the Republicans response to the crisis of 1798? Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Lesson three: Jefferson in Power, 238 begin at Jefferson in Power to Lewis and Clark 241; Also read 244-249
1) Identify Jefferson's governing philosophy.
2) Did the Louisiana Purchase contradict or confirm his philosophy?
3) Just identify Tecumseh, Tenskwatawa (the Prophet) and the Pan-Indian Movement (skip box on Frontier Camp Meetings)
4) How did Jefferson adapt his ideas once in office?
5) Consider the following quote by Thomas Jefferson: What do you think he meant, and why do you think a such a great thinker about human rights and liberty could also be a slave owner? "We have the wolf by the ear." "We can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other."
II. The Rise of Jacksonian Democracy
Lesson four: 244, 266, 282-288
1) Read the box on The Frontier Camp Meeting on page 244-45. Why is this section on religion included in a unit on the roots of American democracy?
2) Identify the Canal Age
3) Why was there anxiety with the rise of greater prosperity? 287
Lesson five: The Rise of Democracy
NON: Read 291- 294 to The New Political Culture, 294-298
1) What is the point of the Powhatan Ellis and Franklin Plummer story?
2) What made Americans' manners seem democratic to European visitors?
3) What was the tension between equality and opportunity? 4) Death of the Caucus System
5) Corrupt Bargain
6) The Acceptance of Political Parties
Lesson Six: Jackson's Rise to Power
NON: Read 298 -307;
1) President of the People
2) Democracy and Race
3) Trail of Tears: In class look at John Ross.
4) Deepening Racism
In-class: Bank War Documents
Lesson Seven: 314-316
1) The Jacksonian Party System
2) The Social Bases of the Two Parties
3) Whig v. Democratic beliefs about government