The “Darker Shadow" of an Unjust War: The U.S.-Mexican War and the U.S. Constitution
Independence National Historical Park, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Common Core Standards:
6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.4
State Standards:
State: TX
Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 8
State Standards 4: History (D), 8:History (B); 20: Citizenship (A); 29: Social studies skills (D)
In 1847, Massachusetts Senator Edward Keyes called to end the U.S.-Mexican War. Keyes claimed it was an unjust war with a “darker shadow... the extension of slavery." He also implied that the Founding Fathers were against slavery.
After reviewing Keyes’s speech, students read quotes from the Founding Fathers to determine their views on slavery and discover why they compromised on slavery.
Next, students learn various aspects of the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
Then, students discuss rights to include in a class constitution. They are asked to compromise to create one class constitution. This experience helps them understand why the Founding Fathers compromised while writing U.S. Constitution.
Finally, students use a Venn diagram to compare their class constitution to the U.S. Constitution.Teachers can connect via Microsoft Teams.
Materials
Students create a class constitution. They use this Venn diagram to compare and contrast their class constitution to the U.S. Constitution.
Tags: us-mexican war us constitution slavery and abolition westward expansion
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service