Before class, draw on the board the spectrum shown:

Ask students if the United States is a union of people or of states and to explain their reasoning.

Guide discussion to arrive at the fact that this is a question that has inspired debate and continues to do so. In the following activity, they will be looking at the nature of the Union. This was especially relevant in the first half of the nineteenth century as the expansion of the country and slavery led to a sectional debate about the nature of the Union. Was the Union “We the people” or “We the states”? Have students draw on their own paper (landscape orientation) a spectrum as shown on the board. As students read the excerpts provided, they will write the name of each document in the appropriate location on their spectrum.

Day 1

Distribute Student Handout A: Student Packet. Ask students to read the Background Essay and then discuss in small groups the Background Essay Questions. Have students read the Part 1: Liberty and Union primary source readings of Handout A: Student Packet. Assign the readings as best fits your teaching situation (e.g., small groups, jigsaw). Instruct students to discuss and annotate the assigned passages according to the directions provided on the handout, to show where and how the documents reflect constitutional principles, and help them develop an answer to the Civics Connection Unit 3 Guiding Question: How did the expansion of the country and slavery lead to a sectional debate about the nature of the Union and the doctrine of nullification? Why is it significant to understand the nature of the Union?

Day 2

Depending on the method you used to have students do the initial reading and analysis on day 1, conduct a discussion that allows students to consider all the documents and share their responses to the questions in the packet. They may share their responses as a whole class or, for example, in the second stage of jigsaw groups, through inner/outer circle fishbowl discussion, and so forth.

Have students work in small groups to complete Part 2 (Nature of the Union and Nullification) of Handout A: Student Packet. The graphic organizer is provided in two versions to facilitate teacher options in customizing the activity. Within Part 2 (Nature of the Union and Nullification), Version A is more challenging, and Version B provides additional scaffolding. Have students review the primary sources they read in part 1 and fill in the graphic organizer to show a) the main idea of each excerpt and b) how it helps readers understand the debate over the nature of the Union.