1. Flipped Learning For next lesson you will need to:
‘Unresolved issues in the American Constitution were significant in creating sectional tension in America by c1845.’ Write a PEEL paragraph in support of the statement (see next slide if you are not sure what is meant by PEEL)
Create a timeline of the American Presidents between the years of Include the name of the President, their political party and the state the President comes from.
What is a Second Party System?
Create a summary of the key beliefs of the Whig and Democrat party until 1854 (make sure you are looking at the American Democrats and American Whigs).
Additional research:
1. Read the article, ‘The US Constitution: Does it ensure limited government?’ and add extra detail on the different elements of the constitution and its role.
2. Next read the article by Alan Farmer, ‘American Constitution’ and add extra detail about the history of the Constitution.

2. ‘Unresolved issues in the American Constitution were significant in creating sectional tension in America by c1845.’
Lets have a look at the different arguments you could have explored as part of supporting this statement……
The compromises over slavery laid out in the Constitution were never likely to last and satisfy both the opponents and supporters of slavery
The Constitution was not fully clear in terms of the long term future of slavery and in particular its extension as the Union grew
The provision for the return of Fugitive Slaves was legally contradictory with the rights of property, clashing with the rights to freedom and for states to make their own laws
The Constitution had left a tension between those who wanted a strong executive and those who wanted an emphasis on States’ rights.
1. For your homework you were asked to write one paragraph supporting this statement in a PEEL structure. Using highlighters I would like you to look at your partners work and pick out the following:
Point – What elements of the Constitution will your paragraph explore
Evidence – What does the Constitution say?
Explain – Why does this create tension in America?
Now write a brief explanation on how their paragraph could be improved. You could pick out an element of the PEEL paragraph or some of the information they have included.

3. North and South C.1845

4. What does it take to become the President of America and just how much power do they have?
Good learning:
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning:
Explain how a president gets elected
Even better:
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States
Key Words:
Democrats
Whigs
platform

5. Introduction to Political Parties

6. When it comes to society and wealth...B
I am not happy with the inequality within it. I wish that more measures could be taken to improve equality.
I think that inequality is inevitable (bound to happen). Some people work harder than others to gain wealth.
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

7. A B When it comes to society as a whole...
I think that the government should play an active role in improving people’s lives.
I think the government should not interfere with people’s lives.
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

8. When it comes to government and society...B
I think that wealth in society should be equally distributed. Poverty is an issue and could be improved this way.
I think that those who are more wealthy should keep it! They earned it after all.
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

9. When it comes to tax and government spending...B
I think that there should be higher levels of tax (with more coming from the rich) to pay for improvements to society, such as health, education and crime.
I think that taxes should be lower so that people have more money to spend and to encourage business.
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

10. When it comes to the economy...A B
I think that the government should closely monitor it and regulate it. E.g. close control of the banks.
I think that the government should let it be free from government interference.
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

11. When it comes to public services (services run by the government for the public)...A B
I think that they should remain in government hands. It is important that the government runs institutions such as the NHS.
I think that too many services are run by the government. More of them should be privatised to save money for the government.
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

12. The Political Spectrum
COMMUNIST
FASCIST
Mostly As: More you think government should intervene to help people
Mostly Bs: More you think people should be free to look after themselves
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

13. The AMERICAN Political system
19TH CENTURY
Whigs
Democrats
TASK: Check your homework and make any corrections to your definition with green pen.
Say a bit about Andrew Jackson + democracy. NOT UNIFIED. P.4 in textbook
Andrew Jackson ^
SECOND PARTY SYSTEM
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

14. True or False
TASK: Use your homework to work out whether these statements are true or not.
Democrats believed that the ‘best form of government, was the least form of government’
Democrats believe in government intervention in economic matters
Democrats were strongest in the South and west
Whigs often support causes such as the abolition of slavery
Whigs do not want government intervention in economic and social issues
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

15. Recap: The Executive Branch
What is the question?
4 years
Vice President
Armed forces
Impeach
Veto
Question relating to how long a Presidential Term is
Question relating to who takes over if a President resigns/dies (relevant for the course!)
Question relating to the President being commander in chief of the army
Question relating to how the Supreme Court checks the power of the President
Question relating to how Congress/President check power, could give a definition?
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

16. Win the Whitehouse!
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

17. 1. National Convention Picking a Presidential Candidate
Democrat 1
Democrat 2
D1 comes from a family who own a large plantation. D1 fought in the Mexican-American War, and saw great success.
D2 is a businessman. His parents were both colonists who emigrated from Ireland, in D2 had six sisters and four brothers.
Whig 1
Whig 2
W1 was born in Illinois, where he/she completed a cloth-making apprenticeship. He later began to study law. From here W1 worked his/her way up through politics, and now wants to become President.
W2 is from Virginia, who descended from an aristocratic and politically entrenched family. W2 was a friend and college roommate of Thomas Jefferson and served as governor. His wife, is the daughter of a prominent plantation owner.
Divide room into two – one can be a Democrat convention, another a Whig convention. Get students to vote for which of THEIR candidates they would vote for and why (based on what they know about the beliefs of their party).
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

18. 2. National Convention Creating a Platform (political beliefs and goals)
Issues you might or might not want to include in your Presidential Candidates Platform:
The economy (industry, agriculture, tariffs, tax)
Social issues (Slavery)
Foreign Policy (Britain, Texas, Manifest Destiny)
Power of the Federal Government/States rights
Get students to make a platform for their party on their tables (using whiteboards)
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

19. 3. Campaigning
Set out a campaign plan for your Presidential Candidate, consider:
How you are going to campaign? (i.e. what are you going to do?)
Who is going to do the campaigning?
Where are you going to campaign?
How: rallies, BBQ’s, torchlight processions, literature!!
Use whiteboards

20. TASK: Write a paragraph that explains how presidential campaigns worked in the 1840’s, including the following aspects:
National Conventions
Platforms
Campaigning
(you can use P.4 in the
textbook to help you)
p.4 political involvement
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

21. UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS
TASK: For your homework you were asked to create a timeline of the different Presidents between You also needed their party and state.
Using your homework, the map and the information on each President you have been given, I would like you to create a ‘Top Trump’ card for each of the Presidents.
UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS
Martin Van Buren John Tyler James K. Polk
Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmoore Franklin Pierce
James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln
Tell students to divide Presidents out and feedback. Emphasise they only need the Presidents OWN beliefs – emphasise note taking skills
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

22. BLUE = NORTH
RED = SOUTH
Map printed - So kids know whether a President’s state is north or south

23. Who is in control? President House of Representatives Senate 1844
1846
1848
1850
1852
1854
1856
1858
1860
TASK: Make a copy of the grid opposite and as we go through the information, add in the different information. You could also colour code the different parties that are in power at the different times.
Use elections smartboard presentation to complete this section
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

24. How much power did the President(s) have?
Discuss what ‘power’ means – how are they going to measure power in this context? Come up with an agreed definition in the class
Give students a post-it note (will leave on the desk – if I forget, there are some in my top draw  )
On the post-it, get them to justify how much influence Presidents have, with at least one example from Presidents studied in the lesson
NONE
TOTAL
Good learning
Understand the differences between American political parties
Great learning
Explain how a President gets elected
Even better
Evaluate how much power Presidents have in the United States

25. Flipped Learning For next lesson you need to:
Watch the following clip looking at the history of slavery in America ( Answer the following questions:
How did slaves end up in America?
Why were slaves important to the American economy, especially in the South?
CHALLENGE: Explain why the North might have a different view of slavery
2. Look at the information on the follow link and make a list of the different arguments in defence of slavery.

26. What if… Constitution does not cover a particular issue?
Some states want to abolish slavery, but other states do not?
New territories are applying to join the Union. There is currently a balance of Southern Slave States and Northern free states.
The Fugitive Slave law is passed by the Federal Government, which states all escaped slaves are, upon capture, to be returned to their masters.