Individual Lesson View
For or Against: Mexican American War
From: Gilder Lehrman
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: With modifications
Time: 2-3 class periods
Length of Reading: Pages
Mexican American War: Arguments for and Against Going to War
Role play debate. Students read 2 primary sources (2 pages each), one for and one against the Mexican American War. Students then write a script for a mock debate in groups.
In lesson 1, students read an excerpt from a James K. Polk speech advocating for war.
In lesson 2, they read an excerpt from Congressman Joshua Giddings's speech arguing against war. Each speech is about 2 pages long. In each lesson, students fill out a graphic organizer and discuss.
In lesson 3, students are divided into groups, and each group writes a script for a mock debate on the question of going to war. Finally, each group preforms their debate for the class.
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Grade Level: HS, College
- This lesson is approved for high school (HS), and College Students
Remote Ready: With Modifications
- Links to the reading assignments can easily be emailed or posted for students.
- It’s much easier for small groups or pairs to coordinate a phone call or video conference meeting than for the entire class to sync their schedules. Have these small groups post answers, a synopsis, or a video of their discussion to your LMS.
Primary Source Icon
This means that this activity utilizes primary sources
Group Work Icon
This activity calls for working in pairs, a group, and/or having a class discussion
Writing Icon
This icon represents a long writing assignment such as an essay or a several paragraph response to a prompt. Almost all activities require students to answer questions, but that's not what this icon represents.
Debate Icon
This activity involves a student debate
Role Play Icon
This activity involves asking students to portray historical figures
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