How did the Homestead Act facilitate the creation of new communities and economies in the American West? This lesson and activity examines the background and impact the Homestead Act of 1862 had on migrants who were later called homesteaders. Students will analyze documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - Primary Source photograph analysis and questions The Homestead Act reading passage with scaffolding graphic organizer questions The Homestead Act primary source text and scaffolding questions A Homesteader POV and questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the Homestead Act of 1862 impact the westward expansion of the United States? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why did cowboys, vigilantes, and ranchers play such a significant role in shaping the society and economy of the Wild West? This lesson and activity examines the background and impact cowboys, vigilantes, and ranchers had in shaping the “wild west.” Students will analyze documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - Primary Source photograph analysis and questions Cowboys and the “Wild West” reading passage with graphic organizer questions Wyatt Earp: The Wild West’s Lawman reading passage and questions Wyatt Earp POV and questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did cowboys, vigilantes, and ranchers help shape the Wild West? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Barbed Wire and the Closing of the Frontier - This lesson and activity examines the invention of barbed wire by Joseph Glidden and how the open frontier was closed. Students will analyze documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. Included in this resource: Closing of the Frontier reading passage with graphic organizer questions Joseph Glidden POV and questions Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why did the cattle kingdom become such a significant part of American history, and how did it influence the development of the West? This activity examines the lives of cowboys of the open range and the challenges they faced. Students will simulate an activity from a cowboy’s point of view in this fun and engaging game! They will answer the discussion questions at the end. Included in this resource: Cattle Drive Adventure Activity Cowboy Role Cards Weather/Event cards Cattle tokens Cattle Drive Adventure activity sheet and discussion questions Cattle Drive Adventure map Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why did the cattle kingdom become such a significant part of American history, and how did it influence the development of the West? This lesson and activity examines the lives of cowboys of the open range and the challenges they faced. Students will analyze reading passages and a cowboy’s point of view to answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - Settlers’ journey primary source photograph with analysis questions Cattle Kingdom reading passage with scaffolding questions Cattle Kingdom, Cowboys, Cattle Drive, Chisholm Trail, Diversity The End of the Open Range reading passage with scaffolding questions Life of a Cowboy POV with scaffolding questions Cattle Drive Adventure Activity Cowboy Role Cards Weather/Event cards Cattle tokens Cattle Drive Adventure activity sheet and discussion questions Cattle Drive Adventure map Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the cattle kingdom, cattle drives, the Chisholm Trail, and the diversity of cowboys change the economy, culture, and community of the American West in the 1800s? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

How did the railroad affect the development of the West? This lesson and activity examines economic, political, social, and environmental effects of the transcontinental railroad. Students will analyze documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - Primary Source photograph analysis and questions Results of the Railroad Graphic Organizer Reading Economic Impact Social and Cultural Impact Environmental Impact Political and Military Impact Technological and Infrastructure Development Effects of the Transcontinental Railroad graphic organizer scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad alter the economic, environmental, and cultural landscapes of the United States? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why was the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit significant for the future of the Pony Express and communication across the United States? This lesson and activity examines the way the need to send goods, information, and people between the East and the West increased. Students will analyze documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - The Far West: Shooting Buffalo on the line of the Kansas-Pacific Railroad primary source analysis and questions Transcontinental Railroad Document Activity Document #1: Pony Express Document #2: Transcontinental Railroad Document #3: Golden Spike Document #4: Leland Stanford Document #5: Routes West, 1870 Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the Pony Express, the establishment of the Transcontinental Railroad, and the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit collectively impact the development and communication across the United States in the late 19th century? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★ This lesson can be used as a document pass activity or a document “walk” around your classroom. ★Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why did settlers face both excitement and trepidation as they embarked on their journey to the western frontier? This lesson and activity examines the reasons why settlers moved west and the causes and effects of westward expansion. Students will analyze reading passages and a settler’s point of view to answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - California: The Cornucopia of the World primary source poster Settlers Move West reading passage with scaffolding questions Frontier, Comstock Lode, Boomtowns, Causes and Effects of Westward Expansion A Settler’s Journey West POV with scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the establishment of boomtowns during the westward expansion of the 1870s affect the economic and social development of the western frontier? Answer key for teachers (suggested) ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This assessment evaluates students’ knowledge from the Reconstruction era unit. Can be used as a review packet or a formal assessment. Included in this resource: Multiple Choice questions Vocabulary matching Short Response question Answer key for teachers ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! Up to teacher’s discretion regarding grading ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This assessment evaluates students’ knowledge from the Reconstruction era unit. Can be used as a review sheet or quick quiz/assessment. Included in this resource: Multiple Choice questions Short Response question Answer key for teachers ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! Up to teacher’s discretion regarding grading ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This assessment evaluates students’ knowledge from the Reconstruction era unit. Can be used as a review packet or a formal assessment. Included in this resource: Multiple Choice questions Thematic Essay question Answer key for teachers ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! Up to teacher’s discretion regarding grading ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

This review evaluates students’ knowledge from the Reconstruction era unit to prep for A Social Studies Life’s Reconstruction era unit test. Included in this resource: Graphic organizer organization Short answer review questions Answer key for teachers ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this review can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2024 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why was the passage of the 15th Amendment considered a significant step towards addressing racial inequalities and expanding democratic participation in the United States? This lesson examines the background and passage of the 15th amendment and the impact it had on the lives of newly freed peoples. Students will examine the provisions of the amendment and how it granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous servitude. They will critically think to conclude how the 15th amendment aimed to ensure equal access to the democratic process and combat the discriminatory voting practices prevalent during that time. Included in this resource: Do Now - Section 1 of the 15th amendment primary source excerpt with scaffolding questions The Fifteenth Amendment reading passage with vocabulary and scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: Why has the 15th Amendment had a lasting impact on the advancement of civil rights and the promotion of equal voting rights in the United States? Answer key for teachers ★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

How did formerly enslaved people strive to achieve social equality? This lesson examines the realities of Reconstruction including sharecropping, the violence of the KKK, and differing viewpoints on education. Students will evaluate documents to conclude how sharecropping played a complex role in shaping the lives of formerly enslaved peoples. They will critically think to conclude if or how the experiences of the formerly enslaved, including their challenges and aspirations, shaped the path toward a more equitable future in the United States. Included in this resource: Do Now - “The First Vote” by Harper’s Weekly political cartoon analysis questions Reconstruction Realities: Sharecropping, the KKK, Hiram Revels, and Education Perspectives reading passage with scaffolding questions Exploring Sharecropping reading passage and definitions Exploring Sharecropping: An Agreement activity which includes: an agreement/contract Sharecropping outcomes dice roll game/simulation Ku Klux Klan reading passage and scaffolding questions Booker T. Washington perspective with scaffolding questions W.E.B DuBois perspective with scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the experiences of the formerly enslaved, including their challenges and aspirations during Reconstruction, shape the path toward a more equitable future in the United States? Answer key for teachers ***cut out the colored cards in the document (landowner/sharecropper cards) to distribute to your students in their groups ★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

How did the presence of carpetbaggers and scalawags during Reconstruction impact the political, economic, and social transformation of the South? This lesson examines the definition, background and effects of carpetbaggers and scalawags on the South during Reconstruction. Students will examine political cartoons and analyze documents to conclude how carpetbaggers and scalawags lived and how they played a complex role. They will critically think to conclude how carpetbaggers and scalawags helped shape the path and long-term expectations of the Reconstruction era. Included in this resource: Do Now - “The Man with the Carpet Bags” by Thomas Nast political cartoon analysis questions Carpetbaggers reading passage with graphic organizer scaffolding questions Carpetbagger perspective with scaffolding questions Scalawags reading passage with graphic organizer scaffolding questions James Lusk Alcorn/Scalawag perspective with scaffolding questions Who was Thomas Nast? short reading passage with three scaffolding questions “The Strong Government 1869-1877” political cartoon with analysis questions Social, Political, and Economic Influence of Carpetbaggers and Scalawags reading passage Carpetbaggers and Scalawags Venn diagram Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the involvement of carpetbaggers and scalawags during Reconstruction shape the path and long-term expectations of the Reconstruction era, and what were the consequences for the future of the South? Answer key for teachers ★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why is the 14th Amendment considered a pivotal and transformative piece of legislation in American history? This lesson examines the background and passage of the 14th amendment and the impact it had on the lives of newly freed peoples. Students will examine the sections and provisions of the amendment and how due process played a key role in shaping the nation’s laws. They will critically think to conclude how the 14th amendment would shape the future of civil rights and equality in the U.S. Included in this resource: Do Now - Section 1 of the 14th amendment primary source excerpt with scaffolding questions The Fourteenth Amendment reading passage with vocabulary and scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How do you believe the 14th Amendment will continue to shape the future of civil rights and equality in the United States? Answer key for teachers ★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why did the enfranchisement of African Americans play a significant role in the outcome of the election of 1868? This lesson examines the background and outcome of the presidential election of 1868. Students will examine the electoral map and background of the election analyzing reading passes and answering scaffolding questions. They will critically think to conclude how the African American vote significantly influenced the outcome of the election. Included in this resource: Do Now - Election of 1868 electoral map analysis questions Election of 1868 reading passage with graphic organizer scaffolding questions Ulysses S. Grant Election of 1868 perspective with scaffolding questions Horatio Seymour Election of 1868 perspective with scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the significant participation of African American voters in the election of 1868 influence the outcome and contribute to the advancement of Reconstruction and civil rights in the United States? Answer key for teachers ★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why did the Election of 1876 lead to the Compromise of 1877, and how did this compromise impact the political and social landscape in the United States during the post-Civil War era? This lesson and activity examines the outcome of the election of 1876 and the terms of the agreement and compromise in 1877. Students will analyze primary source documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - Election of 1876 electoral map and scaffolding questions “Election Riddles: The Mystery of 1876” poem with critical thinking question Remembering the Amnesty Act of 1872 primary source document with vocabulary Understanding the Amnesty Act of 1872 reading passage with scaffolding questions The Election of 1876 and Compromise of 1877 reading passage with scaffolding questions Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana during the Election of 1876 inference graphic organizer and corresponding questions The End of Reconstruction reading passage with graphic organizer questions Rutherford B. Hayes’ on the Compromise of 1877 perspective and questions Samuel J. Tilden on the Compromise of 1877 perspective and questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: Why did the Amnesty Act of 1872 have a notable impact on elections, and how did it influence the political dynamics and participation in the post-Civil War era? Answer key for teachers ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why were poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, Jim Crow laws, and other voter suppression tactics employed during the Reconstruction era in the United States? This lesson and activity examines the tactics used to deter newly able people to vote. Students will analyze primary source documents and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - “The Georgetown Elections,” illustration by Thomas Nash political cartoon and scaffolding questions Voter Suppression tactics during Reconstruction reading passage with scaffolding questions Analyzing primary source documents and corresponding scaffolding questions JH Hayden and Angus Hamilton letter to President Taft addressing disenfranchisement Robert S. Anderson’s poll tax receipt, 1940 Literacy Test example 1965 Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: Why did voter suppression tactics during Reconstruction have a significant impact on the democratic participation of certain groups, particularly African American citizens? Answer key for teachers ★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Why was the election of 1872 significant in shaping the United States’ path towards national reconciliation and the subsequent passage of the Amnesty Act? This lesson and activity examines the election of 1872 and how amnesty granted to southern voters affected the outcome of the election. Students will analyze the viewpoints of Grant and Greeley and answer corresponding scaffolding questions. They will answer the final summary question to apply their knowledge. Included in this resource: Do Now - 1872 electoral map analysis questions The Election of 1872 and the Amnesty Act reading passage with scaffolding questions Ulysses S. Grant election perspective with scaffolding questions Horace Greeley election perspective with scaffolding questions Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the election of 1872 and the subsequent Amnesty Act impact the United States’ path toward national reconciliation and the post-Civil War era’s policies? Answer key for teachers ★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you! ©2023 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.