Last updated: September 26, 2019
Lesson Plan
Albert Gallatin a Most Astonishing Man - Gallatin and the Louisiana Purchase - Lesson 3
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- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 30 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 5.RI.2, 5.RI.3, 6.RI.2, 6.RI.3, 7.RI.2, 7.RI.3, 8.RI.2, 8.RI.3, 5.W.1, 5.W.2, 6.W.1, 6.W.2, 7.W.1, 7.W.2, 8.W.1, 8.W.2
- Thinking Skills:
- Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
Was the Louisiana Purchase a good buy?
Objective
By the end of this lesson the students will be able to:
• List two ways buying the Louisiana Territory benefited the United States
• Justify why the minister to France made the purchase
Background
In this lesson the students will use a student reading to learn about the Louisiana Purchase. Then using an activity worksheet the students will write why the Louisiana Purchase would benefit the United States and how they would act if they were in the dilemma that the minister to France was in when he was offered the Louisiana Territory.
Preparation
Read the teacher background information on Albert Gallatin and make copies of the student reading and activity worksheet.
Materials
Download Lesson 3 - Gallatin and the Louisiana Purchase
Download Background information for the teacher
Lesson Hook/Preview
In 1803 a United States minister went to France to try to buy New Orleans and some land surrounding it. When he arrived France offered to sell not only New Orleans, but all of the Louisiana Territory. This would be a great addition to the United States, however, it was more than the minister was allowed to spend. How should he react?
Procedure
- Introduce the guiding question to students.
- Hand out copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
- Have the students complete the sheets.
- Review the guiding question.
Vocabulary
Louisiana Purchase: the land purchased from France called the Louisiana Territory
Cabinet: the President of the United States circle of close advisors
Assessment Materials
The assessment is included in the lesson plan.
Supports for Struggling Learners
You can read the material out loud to the students or go over the material as a class.
Enrichment Activities
President Jefferson could not quickly communicate with his minister to France. Today we have nearly instant communication with phones, texts and emails. Make a list of some things that might go wrong in your life if you didn’t have instant communication.
Additional Resources
Friendship Hill National Historic Site website: www.nps.gov/frhi
Related Lessons or Education Materials
This is lesson 3 of the curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man. You can find links to the other lessons below.
Lesson 1: Gallatin's Start in Politics
Lesson 2 : Gallatin and the Whiskey Rebellion
Lesson 3. Gallatin and the Louisiana Purchase
Lesson 4: Gallatin and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lesson 5: Gallatin and New Geneva
Lesson 6: Gallatin as Secretary of the TreasuryLesson 7: Gallatin's Family and Timeline
You can also download all seven lessons, the entire 32-page curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man.