Discovering Our Past: The American Journey to World War I

Chapter 7: Foreign Affairs in the Early Republic

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter students have read about the growth and changes that took place in early America. Change was also coming to other countries of the Western Hemisphere. Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, and Miguel Hidalgo were only a few of the people who fought for the independence of their countries.

Lesson Description
In this lesson students will visit the Mexico Online Web site and read about Miguel Hidalgo and the fight for Mexican independence. They will answer several questions and then write a letter from the viewpoint of Miguel Hidalgo on the night before he was to be executed, describing his feelings about his part in the Mexican war for independence.

1. The learner will be able to identify causes and effects leading to Mexico's struggle for independence.
2. The learner will be able to describe Miguel Hidalgo's relationship with Native Americans.
3. The learner will be able to describe the significance of Miguel Hidalgo's actions in the war for Mexican independence.
4. The learner will be able to evaluate the consequences of actions taken during Miguel Hidalgo's life.

1. Hidalgo was a Catholic priest in the village of Dolores. Gachupines were native Spaniards living in Mexico who had social and legal priority over the criollos, or Mexican-born Spaniards.
2. Joseph Bonaparte replacing King Ferdinand of Spain
3. He called on the exploited groups, the Indians and the mestizos.
4. He regretted the mass slaughter of Spaniards, something he had not foreseen in his hasty call of the Indians and mestizos to action.
5. Students' letters will vary.