What should be required for a Territory to become a State?

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This inquiry explores civics and citizenship through the compelling question, “what should be required for a territory become a state?” The importance of understanding how complex government entities are created in this inquiry is twofold: (1) students should be able to understand how governments claim land and organize a system of managing it, and (2) students will benefit from understanding how North Dakota’s state constitution was created. While progressing through the inquiry, students will analyze issues and changes occurring in contemporary state politics and speculate future scenarios.

This inquiry is expected to take three class periods; however, teachers are encouraged to adapt the inquiry to meet the needs and interests of their students and the amount of time they have available.

Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprint™
Compelling Question
How does a territory become a state?
Standards and Practices
ND.6_12.2.2 Describe the formation, structure, and modern role of the territorial, state, county, and local government of North Dakota.
Staging the Question
What are the pros and cons for a territory pursuing statehood?
Supporting Question 1
Supporting Question 2
Supporting Question 3
What conditions are required for a territory to become a state?
How and why was Dakota Territory divided into two states?
What were the arguments for and against women’s suffrage?
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Analyze the featured sources and write a short summary about them.
Using the internet and library resources, students will conduct research and write a summary.
Create a poster illustrating the arguments for and against suffrage.
Featured Sources
Featured Sources
Featured Sources
  • Internet and library resources
  • Internet and library resources
  • Woman’s Suffrage at Statehood Document Set
  • Woman Suffrage Material on ND Studies Teacher Resources page?
Summative Performance Task
Argument
How does a territory become a state? Why would the people of a territory want it to become a state? Construct an argument that addresses the compelling question, "what should be required for a territory to become a state?" using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views. Create a poster and present your argument to your class with evidence to support your claims.
Extension
Create a timeline of North Dakota’s history from the formation of the Dakota Territorial government to statehood.
Taking Informed Action

Understand: How is the legacy of U.S. land acquisition visible today?

Assess: Debate advantages and disadvantages of becoming a state. What are contemporary parallels?

Act: Using the research summaries created and presented in class, create posters to present to the community during a history fair.