Skip to Main Content
undefined

Decisions in the Early Republic

Guiding Question

  • How did the Constitution influence decisions in the Early Republic?

Objectives

  • Students will analyze key events from 1789-1815, tracing their causes and effects to understand how decisions shaped the Early Republic.
  • Students will use specific historical events to make cause-and-effect analysis concrete.
  • Students will connect events to the bigger historical picture.
  • Students will engage in critical thinking and historical reasoning.

Student Resources:

Teacher Resources:

  • A few dominoes (3-10 is sufficient)
  • Chart paper
  • Sticky notes

Facilitation Notes

  • This lesson supports cause and effect understanding using the Early Republic Interactive Timeline.

Anticipate

  • Glossary terms: terms used in this lesson for pre-teach opportunities or vocabulary support.
    • Neutrality, Proclamation, Cause, Effect, Rebellion, Sentiment, Opposition, Federalists, Democratic-Republicans, Sedition, Embargo, Impressment, Nationalism, Smuggling
  • Before beginning the lesson, it may be necessary to pre-teach vocabulary that students will encounter.
  • Consider using one of the activities from our Teacher Vocabulary Activity Guide to pre-teach vocabulary from the list of glossary terms.

Engage

  • Glossary terms used in this part of the lesson: neutrality, proclamation, cause, effect
  • Transition: Create a small line of standing dominoes in a place that all students can see from their desks.

Domino Decisions Introduction and Demonstration

  • Ask students: “What happens when a new country struggles to define its government, deal with foreign nations, or handle internal disagreements?”
  • Show a simple chain of causes and effects on the board (e.g., Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation → British and French reactions → Challenges to U.S. shipping).
  • Explain that today, they’ll trace how early decisions created ripple effects.
    • Topple the line of dominoes theatrically, to illustrate how one action can set a ripple effect in motion.

Explore

  • Glossary terms used in this part of the lesson: rebellion, sentiment, opposition, Federalists, Democratic-Republicans, sedition, embargo, impressment, nationalism, smuggling

Timeline Investigation (Small Groups by Event)

  • Transition: Assign students to small groups of 2-4 students.
  • Each group gets one key event from the timeline. Their task is to determine:
    • What caused this event?
    • What were the immediate and long-term effects?
    • How did this event connect to others in the Early Republic?

Events for Groups:

  • Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation (1793)
    • Cause: The French Revolution leads to war in Europe.
    • Effects: Britain and France challenge U.S. neutrality by attempting to have it become involved, leading to events like negotiating the Jay Treaty and the Quasi-War.
  • Whiskey Rebellion (1794)
    • Cause: A federal tax on whiskey angers frontier farmers.
    • Effects: Washington enforces federal authority by putting down the rebellion and enforcing the tax, proving the strength of the Constitution but sparking debate over federal power.
  • XYZ Affair (1797-1798)
    • Cause: France demands bribes from U.S. diplomats.
    • Effects: Anti-French sentiment rises, the Quasi-War begins, and the U.S. expands its navy to strengthen national defense.
  • Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
    • Cause: Fear of French influence and internal opposition to Federalists.
    • Effects: Limits on free speech, backlash from states (Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions), contributes to Jefferson’s election.
  • Louisiana Purchase (1803)
    • Cause: Napoleon needs money for European wars, U.S. wants to expand.
    • Effects: Doubles U.S. territory, sparks debate over constitutional authority and executive power, increases conflict with Native Americans.
  • Embargo Act (1807)
    • Cause: British impressment of American sailors and interference with trade.
    • Effects: U.S. economy suffers, smuggling increases, contributes to War of 1812.
  • War of 1812 (1812-1815)
    • Cause: British impressment, trade restrictions, Native American conflicts.
    • Effects: National unity increases, Native alliances weaken, U.S. manufacturing grows, Federalist Party declines.
  • Each group shares findings with the class, and a large cause-effect web is built on the board.

Ripple Effects Discussion

  • Class discussion: Which events had the biggest impact?
    • Introduce short-term vs. long-term effects:
      • Short-term: Embargo Act damages economy.
      • Long-term: Louisiana Purchase leads to expansion debates over slavery.
    • Introduce intended vs. unintended consequences:
      • Example: Alien & Sedition Acts → Federalists wanted control, but backlash helped Jefferson win in 1800.

 

Assess

Cause-Effect Chain Mapping

  • Each student picks one event and maps out three layers of effects in concentric circles:
    • Immediate Effect (What happened right away?)
    • Secondary Effect (What changed later?)
    • Long-Term Impact (How did this shape the future of the U.S.?)
  • Display maps around the room for a gallery walk where students analyze patterns.

Reflect and Extend

Cause and Effect Gallery Walk

  • Each event is posted on the wall with room to post sticky notes around it.
  • Students move around in groups of two and use the timeline to add:
    • One new cause (What earlier event led to this?)
    • One new effect (How did this shape later history?)
  • Exit ticket: Which event caused the biggest chain reaction?