US History
The History of our Nation
lesson plan

A divided nation

A lesson plan by US History

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In these lessons the student will understand how the industrial revolution, increasing immigration, the rapid expansion of slavery, and the westward movement changed the lives of Americans and led toward regional tension

Lesson 1: The Antebellum era

In this lesson the students will learn about the differences between the regions in the United States. Differences that, eventually, will lead to the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Subjects:
  • Industry in the North
  • Agriculture in the South
  • Plantational system
  • Cotton Gin
  • Slavery
  • Underground Railroad
  • Growing tensions between the regions
With this lesson the pupils can work independently on the subject. This lesson first looks back on the previous subject, after which the students continue with the current subject.

Subjects:
  • Boston Tea Party
  • United States territorial expansion between 1801 and 1861
  • Plantational system
  • Slavery
NSS-USH.5-12.4 ERA 4: EXPANSION AND REFORM (1801-1861):
Understands how the industrial revolution, increasing immigration, the rapid expansion of slavery, and the westward movement changed the lives of Americans and led toward regional tensions

LESSON 2: Prelude to the war

In this lesson the students will learn about the (direct) causes that of the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Subjects:
  • Missouri Compromise
  • Compromise of 1850
  • Kansas-Nebreska Act
  • Bleeding Kansas
  • Election of 1860
With this lesson the pupils can work independently on the subject. This lesson first looks back on the previous subject, after which the students continue with the current subject.

Subjects:
  • American Presidents
  • US before and after 1850
  • Plantational system
  • Slavery
NSS-USH.5-12.4 ERA 4: EXPANSION AND REFORM (1801-1861):
Understands how the industrial revolution, increasing immigration, the rapid expansion of slavery, and the westward movement changed the lives of Americans and led toward regional tensions