Debating the Documents: The Early Republic and Divided Nation
Debating the Documents is the name given to:
o Sets of booklets (listed below) and
o Two long essays that have been written using the contents of all of the booklets
that can be used for analysis and debate
The booklets can be used separately; or all eight of the booklets in the set could be used for the
debate. The former option would be very manageable for individual, small group, or whole class
work. The latter option would be very time-consuming.
General contents of the booklets:
 An open-ended essay question that students answer through application of document
analysis (Document-Based Question)
 Two groups of primary source documents, often including cartoons and paintings as well
as written sources, for students to analyze and discuss
--Within each group, the sources conflict with one another, expressing
different or opposing points of view.
--Analysis sheets help students think about the documents, discuss the
documents, and answer the DBQ
 Worksheets for writing Compare the Documents paragraphs
--Students decide which source is more reliable or useful for answering
the DBQ while discovering that they can learn from all of the documents
 Transparencies of visuals and excerpts of written documents for leading discussion
 A guide to organizing the writing
These are available from the Multimedia Library. Specific subject matter of the individual booklets
is described on the reverse side.
Media# Title
R00001 - Divided Nation: Debating The Documents (Complete Set)
R00002
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R00009
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Bleeding Kansas: A Failure Of Compromise
Blue Or Gray: Why Men Fought In The Civil War
Calhoun Vs. The Abolitionists
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Missouri Compromise
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The War With Mexico
Was John Brown A Hero?
R00010 - The Early Republic: Debating The Documents (Complete Set)
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R00012
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Henry Clay's American System
Jackson And The Indians
John Marshall's Court
A Knack At Contriving: Why Americans Invented Things
The Lowell Experience
The Monroe Doctrine: Was It Necessary?
The "Grand Compromise" And The Making Of The Constitution
Revivalists And Utopians: Reform In Antebellum America