Topic: Jefferson's Public Life & Politics
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Jefferson’s notes on his epitaph and gravemarker
Lesson Plan
Personal Morals vs. Political Moves
Because he wrote that “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence in 1776, should Thomas Jefferson be thought of as a hypocrite for owning slaves?Lesson Plan
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom DBQ
Students will explore primary sources to gain a full understanding of the context, content, and lasting impact of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Students will evaluate primary...Lesson Plan
Empire of Liberty or Empire of Slavery?
This three-stage lesson explores Thomas Jefferson’s plans to create an “Empire of Liberty” and the problems he faced in realizing his goals. In so doing, it considers the...Lesson Plan
Jefferson and Expansion: Scaffolding Student Understanding of Cause and Effect
This lesson focuses on the following prompt: “Analyze the causes of and the resulting issues from the Louisiana Purchase. Concentrate your answer between the years 1790-1820.” The lesson...Lesson Plan
The Election of 1800: Revolutionary Stability
This lesson is a combination of a few different approaches: students will study primary writings of Jefferson and Adams, examine a range of online documents and images in...Lesson Plan
Unalienable Rights – Who Says?
How would different people (from different times) interpret an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence?Lesson Plan
Lewis and Clark: Explorers or Conquerors?
When Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory from France, he commissioned Lewis and Clark to explore the new territory. What was the purpose behind this mission? Were they sent...Lesson Plan
Monticello: Thomas Jefferson’s Autobiography
What was Thomas Jefferson’s public persona and private personality? In this lesson students will use Monticello, Jefferson’s meticulously designed home, as a primary source in their analysis and...Lesson Plan