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Chapter 6: 1828-1844 Inquiry Organizer

Compelling Question: Was the democratization of politics during the Jacksonian era a shift from Founding era political theory?

Chapter Objectives:

  • Students will explore the expansion of democracy in the Jacksonian era and its limits.
  • Students will explore the sources of unity and conflict in American politics and society during the Jackson presidency, westward expansion, antebellum reform.
  • Students will compare the democratization of politics during the Jacksonian era with the ideals of the Founding era.
Supporting Question 1: How did the Jacksonian era expand democracy in politics? Resources:

Supporting Question 2: How did Jacksonian politics cause conflict in American society and politics? Resources:

Supporting Question 3: How did Americans advocate for greater reform during the Jacksonian Era? Resources:

Supporting Question 4: In what ways did the Jacksonian era reflect the ideals of the Founding? Resources:

Additional Resources:

Unit 3 Essay Activity: Was the democratization of politics during the Jacksonian era a shift from Founding era political theory? Option B: Evaluate the extent to which the democratization of politics during the Jacksonian Era was a change from Founding era political theory. Through this inquiry, students will evaluate primary and secondary sources to compare the expansion of democracy in the Jacksonian period to the ideals of the American Founding, drawing on context and content from this as well as previous chapters. Ultimately, students will be able to practice a change-and-continuity Long Essay Question (LEQ) comparing how political ideals shifted and persevered in America from the Founding through the Jacksonian era. Assess students’ progress in understanding the compelling question for this chapter by assigning the Unit 3 Essay Activity.

Some components of this resource may contain terminology that is no longer used because the terms are recognized to be offensive or derogatory, and some components may contain images that would be considered offensive or derogatory today. These terms and images have been retained in their original usage in order to present them accurately in their historical context for student learning, including understanding why these are not acceptable today.


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