Unit Title: The Age of Jackson
Michael Gallagher, 8th Grade U.S. History
Stage 1
If the desired result is for learners to…
Enduringly understand that… (EU)
- Jackson was the first president who
purported to represent “the common
man” and he expanded the powers of
the presidency.
- As president, Jackson was inconsistent
in his adherence to his professed value
of states’ rights.
- America’s “manifest destiny” came at
a huge cost to Native Americans.
- The legacy of historical actors can
change as society’s values change.
And thoughtfully consider the following
essential questions… (EQ)
- What was Jackson’s greatest
achievement as president?
- Did Jackson violate the Constitution or
simply expand the scope of its
powers?
- Was Indian Removal inevitable?
- How did the nullification crisis
foreshadow the Civil War?
Stage 2
Then, you need evidence of the students’ ability to…
Show these skills… (S)
- Apply parameters of the Constitution to Jackson’s
actions.
- Contextualize the Indian Removal Act by taking
into account relations between Americans and
Native Americans through the first third of the
nineteenth century.
- Analyze secondary and primary sources to
develop an understanding of Jackson’s actions as
president.
- Draft a persuasive written argument drawing on
documentary evidence and addressing counter-
arguments.
And the performance tasks assessed need to include… (T)
- Small groups present their research findings to the
class about a Native American tribe’s experiences
under Jackson’s Indian Removal policies.
- Recommendation to Congress on whether to
remove Jackson from the $20 bill.
Other evidence (OE) might include…
- Checks for understanding related to understanding
Jackson’s actions as president: quiz on the
nullification crisis and the bank veto.
- SAC: South Carolina vs. Federal Government in
nullification crisis. [Alternative: Jackson vs.
Biddle in bank recharter debate].
Stage 3
Then the learning activities need to include…
(L)
- Review background knowledge: War of
1812; Battle of Horseshoe Bend; Battle of
New Orleans; John Quincy Adams’
presidency.
- Identify the main issues in the election of
1828.
- Identify the economic and political factors
that led to the nullification crisis.
- SAC: South Carolina vs. Federal
Government in nullification crisis
- Analyze Supreme Court decision in
McCulloch v. Maryland.
- Examine Biddle’s defense of the Second
Bank of the United States.
- Examine Jackson’s unprecedented use of
the veto power, including the bank veto.
- Identify the causes of the economic
depression of 1837.
- Activity assessing the constitutionality of
Jackson’s actions during the nullification
crisis and bank recharter debate.
- Survey relations between Americans and
Native Americans since the War of 1812.
- Research Native American tribes’
experiences under Jackson’s Indian
Removal policies (in small groups).
- View examples of a persuasive letter to
Congress.
- Engage in writing conferences to perfect
recommendation letters.
Assessment Plan

Congress is considering replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. The idea first gained traction with a petition signed by 100,000 Americans.
However, another petition has been sent to Congress in favor of keeping Jackson on the bill. Congress has asked a select number of historians (you!)
to weigh in on the matter. In particular, they have asked you to make a recommendation as to whether Jackson is worthy of the honor of being on the
bill based on the historical evidence related to his presidency. Congress also requests that you discuss the major decisions of Jackson’s entire
presidency, and not only Indian Removal.

Drawing on at least five sources (three primary), draft a letter to Congress with your final recommendation. Please draw on each of the following
areas to support your recommendation: Indian Removal, the Nullification Crisis, and the Bank Veto. Please also include at least one analysis of the
constitutionality of one or more of Jackson’s actions. Finally, please address at least two counter-arguments to your recommendation.

You may choose from the below sources, or find other sources:

--Jackson’s First and Second Messages to Congress

--The Indian Removal Act

--Worcester v. Georgia and Jackson’s response to the decision

--Treaty of New Echota

--Emerson’s account of Cherokee assimilation

--Hayne vs. Webster debate

--Jackson’s Force Bill

--McCulloch v. Maryland

--Jackson’s Bank Veto

Monday
Topic: Review background
knowledge / Election of 1828
Objective: Establish
Jackson’s reputation, values
and priorities going into his
presidency.
Topic: Jackson’s
unprecedented use of the veto
power, including the bank
veto.
Objective: Examine the ways
in which Jackson expanded
the power of the presidency.
Topic: Indian Removal Act:
difference between the letter
of the law and its
implementation.
Objective: Understand
Jackson’s motivation behind
this policy.
Tuesday
Topic: Emergence of the
nullification crisis.
Objective: Introduce an early
challenge faced by Jackson
and the way in which it
challenged his “common
man”, states’ rights values.
Topic: Aftermath of the Bank
Veto: inflation and economic
depression.
Objective: Identify the
consequences of one of
Jackson’s main actions as
president, as well as
alternative explanations (“It
was Van Buren’s fault.”)
Topic: Research Native
American tribes’ experiences
under Jackson’s Indian
Removal policies (in small
groups).
Objective: Examine the
human toll of Jackson’s
Indian Removal policies.
Wednesday
Topic: Climax and resolution
of the nullification crisis.
Objective: Examine
Jackson’s role in
(temporarily) preserving the
union.
Topic:
--Quiz: nullification crisis
and the bank veto.
--Introduce activity assessing
the constitutionality of
Jackson’s actions during the
nullification crisis and the
bank recharter debate.
Objective: Assess
understanding.
Topic: Research Native
American tribes’ experiences
under Jackson’s Indian
Removal policies (in small
groups).
Objective: Examine the
human toll of Jackson’s
Indian Removal policies.
Thursday
Topic: SAC - South Carolina
vs. Federal Government in
the nullification crisis
Objective: Assess students’
understanding of the
nullification crisis and have
them consider both sides of
the issue which will be useful
in addressing counter-
arguments in their summative
assessment.
Topic: Assess the
constitutionality of Jackson’s
actions during the
nullification crisis and the
bank recharter debate.
Objective: Prepare students
for constitutional analysis in
summative assessment.
Topic: Small group
presentations on Native
American tribes’ experiences
under Jackson’s Indian
Removal policies.
Objective: Examine the
human toll of Jackson’s
Indian Removal policies.
Friday
Topic: McCulloch v.
Maryland and Biddle’s case
for the recharter of the Bank.
Objective: Introduce another
big challenge faced by
Jackson and the ways in
which his “common man”,
states’ rights values informed
his response.
Topic: Survey American-
Native American relations
since the War of 1812.
Objective: Contextualize the
Indian Removal Act.
Topic: Writing conferences to
perfect recommendation
letters.
Objective: Peer feedback and
iteration.