Overview

Write a five-page examination of how the United States emerged as a nation-state.

This assessment allows you to demonstrate your understanding of ideas and events that form the foundation of the United States.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

· Competency 1: Explain how America emerged into a nation-state.

. Discuss how America evolved as a nation-state after the War of 1812.

. Explain why, from the Whig point of view, the development of the United States as a nation was relatively free of problems except for the Civil War.

. Discuss radical points of view on America’s lack of development.

. Explain the role of Thomas Jefferson as President in developing the American nation.

. Describe the role of Andrew Jackson in developing the American nation.

· Competency 6: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.

Context

Becoming a New Nation

When does a nation become more than just an idea or passion felt deeply in the hearts of men? The United States survived as a concept after the Revolution. There were political and sectional obstacles to it becoming more than that during the Articles of Confederation period. England remained an ambitious enemy—an enemy who sponsored Indian wars against the American frontier. Plainly, England had not given up on the idea of conquering its former colonies once again. The War of 1812 gave ample proof of such intentions. America did not win that war. England did not either. In the decades that followed, Americans had an opportunity to expand its institutions and strengthen its presidency in particular.

Questions to consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

· Did the United States become a nation while it was fighting the British, or after?

Suggested Resources

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.

Library Resources

The following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:

· Whaples, R. (2014). Were Andrew Jackson’s policies “good for the economy”? The Independent Review, 18(4), 545–558.

· Schwarz, M. (2013). The origins of Jeffersonian nationalism: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the sovereignty question in the Anglo-American commercial dispute of the 1780s. Journal Of Southern History, 79(3), 569–592.

· Brogdon, M. S. (2011). Defending the union: Andrew Jackson’s nullification proclamation and American federalism. Review of Politics, 73(2), 245–273.

Course Library Guide

A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the HIS-FP4100 – Critical Aspects of American History Library Guide to help direct your research.

Bookstore Resources

The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the Capella University Bookstore. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course ID with the specific –FP (FlexPath) course designation.

· Keene, J. D., Cornell, S. T., & O’Donnell, E. T. (2016). Visions of America: A history of the United States (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

. Chapter 7, “Jeffersonian America: An Expanding Empire of Liberty, 1800–1824.”

. Chapter 8, “Democrats and Whigs: Democracy and American Culture, 1820–1840.”

Assessment instructions

Discuss how America emerged as a nation-state. Address the following in your examination:

· Discuss the important milestones in America’s evolution into a nation-state after the War of 1812. Why were they significant?

· Describe why, from the Whig point of view, the development of United States as a nation was relatively free of problems except for the Civil War.

· Discuss how, from the view point of radicals, the United States never fully developed because it was distracted by circumstances (that is, industrialization, racism, urban blight, and foreign misadventures).

· Describe the legacy of Thomas Jefferson in the areas of foreign policy, national expansion, and banking at the national level.

· Describe the actions of Andrew Jackson in the areas of national expansion and banking at the national level.

Additional Requirements

· Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.

· APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.

· Number of resources: Minimum of one peer-reviewed resource.

· Length of paper: Five typed, double-spaced pages.

· Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.