United States History Student Edition

03

INQUIRY ACTIVITY

FLORIDA BENCHMARKS

Analyzing Sources: The Significance of the Ordinances of 1784, 1785, and 1787 ? COMPELLING QUESTION How and why do governments control territorial expansion?

• SS.8.A.1.6 • SS.8.A.1.7 • SS.8.G.4.1

• SS.8.A.1.1 • SS.8.A.1.2 • SS.8.A.1.3 • SS.8.A.1.4

Plan Your Inquiry DEVELOPING QUESTIONS

Background Information After the American colonies gained their independence, the new United States began to focus on expanding its territory. Government leaders had to consider the best way to achieve this goal. For example, they had to determine how new lands to the west would be divided and sold. To control the expansion of the nation, with the addition of new territory and eventually new states, they passed a number of laws in the late 1700s. This lesson includes documents, letters, and images related to this period in history. As you read each source, think about what it says about territorial expansion or the ways the government worked to bring new areas into the country. Consider the impact territorial expansion had on the United States.

Think about the laws the government passed during the 1780s to help the new nation grow and to control the addition of new territory to the United States. Then read the Compelling Question for this lesson. What questions can you ask to help you answer this Compelling Question? Create a graphic organizer like the one below. Write your Supporting Questions in your graphic organizer.

What this source tells me about the U.S. government and territorial expansion during the 1780s

Questions the source leaves unanswered

Supporting Questions Source

A B C D E F G

ANALYZING SOURCES Next, examine the primary sources in this lesson. Analyze each source by answering the questions that follow it. How does each source help you answer each Supporting Question you created? What questions do you still have? Write these in your graphic organizer.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 set up a plan for dividing and selling western lands. The new grid system worked well and was later used across the nation. You can still see traces of this system from the air.

After you analyze the sources, you will: • use the evidence from the sources • communicate your conclusions • take informed action

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