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  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire in 1804. He was the 14th President of the United States. Pierce attended Bowdoin College. After graduation he studied law and then entered politics. At the age of 24 he was elected to the New Hampshire legislature; two years later he became its Speaker. During the 1830's he went to Washington, first as a Representative, then as a Senator.

He decided to volunteer to fight in the Mexican-American War and rose to the rank of colonel. He rose through the ranks and became a brigadier, taking command of his own brigade. During the Battle of Contreras he was seriously wounded in the leg when he fell off his horse. Despite the pain, he returned to battle the next day. He proved his skill as a military commander by going on to capture Mexico City.

After the Mexican War Pierce ran for the 1852 Presidential nomination. He won with a narrow margin of the popular vote. In his Inaugural speech he proclaimed an era of peace and prosperity at home and a more forceful foreign policy. This included trying to persuade Spain to sell Cuba. He also purchased the area now comprising southern Arizona and part of southern New Mexico for $10,000,000.

Pierce upset the delicate north-south balance in 1854 when he passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This reopened the question of slavery in the West as it allowed residents of the new territories to decide the slavery question for themselves. The result was a rush by southerners and northerners into Kansas. Shooting broke out, and "bleeding Kansas" became a prelude to the Civil War. Pierce died in 1869.

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/franklinpierce

Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire in 1804. He was the 14th President of the United States. Pierce attended Bowdoin College. After ______________________ law and then entered politics. At the age of 24 ______________________ New Hampshire legislature; two years later he became its Speaker. During the 1830's he went to Washington, first as a Representative, ______________________.

He decided to volunteer to fight in the Mexican-American War and rose to the rank of colonel. He ______________________ and became a brigadier, taking command of his own brigade. During the Battle of Contreras he was ______________________ the leg when he fell off his horse. Despite the pain, he returned to battle the next day. He proved his skill as a military commander by ______________________ Mexico City.

After the Mexican War Pierce ran for the 1852 Presidential nomination. He won ______________________ of the popular vote. In his Inaugural speech he proclaimed an era of ______________________ at home and a more forceful foreign policy. This included trying to persuade Spain to sell Cuba. He also ______________________ now comprising southern Arizona and part of southern New Mexico for $10,000,000.

Pierce upset the delicate north-south balance in 1854 when he passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This ______________________ of slavery in the West as it allowed residents of the new territories to decide the slavery question for themselves. The ______________________ southerners and northerners into Kansas. Shooting broke out, and "bleeding Kansas" ______________________ the Civil War. Pierce died in 1869.

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire in 1804. He was the 14th President of the United States. Pierce tdeteadn Bowdoin College. After graduation he studied law and then erdtene politics. At the age of 24 he was eeecdlt to the New Hampshire legislature; two years later he became its Speaker. During the 1830's he went to Washington, first as a Representative, then as a Senator.

He decided to volunteer to fight in the Mexican-American War and rose to the rank of colonel. He rose hhourtg the ranks and became a brigadier, taking command of his own brigade. During the Battle of Contreras he was seriously ondewdu in the leg when he fell off his horse. Despite the pain, he returned to battle the next day. He proved his skill as a rlaitimy commander by going on to capture Mexico City.

After the Mexican War Pierce ran for the 1852 Presidential nomination. He won with a narrow iragnm of the popular vote. In his Inaugural speech he proclaimed an era of peace and prosperity at home and a more forceful foreign poicyl. This included trying to aesduper Spain to sell Cuba. He also purchased the area now comprising southern Arizona and part of southern New Mexico for $10,000,000.

Pierce upset the delicate north-south leacnba in 1854 when he passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This reopened the question of slavery in the West as it allowed dsritnsee of the new territories to decide the aelvyrs question for themselves. The result was a rush by southerners and northerners into Kansas. Shooting broke out, and "bleeding Kansas" became a prelude to the Civil War. Pierce died in 1869.

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire in 1804. He was the 14th President of the United States. Pierce attended Bowdoin College. studied and After he law then graduation entered politics. of 24 he was elected to the New At the age Hampshire legislature; became Speaker years he its two later. During the 1830's he went to Washington, first as a Representative, then as a Senator.

Mexican to He fight decided in to the volunteer-American War and rose to the rank of colonel. He rose through the ranks and became a brigadier, taking command of his own brigade. During the Battle of Contreras leg the in wounded seriously was he when he fell off his horse. Despite the pain, he returned to battle the next day. as He a proved military his commander skill by going on to capture Mexico City.

After the Mexican War Pierce ran for the 1852 Presidential nomination. narrow the He a of vote with margin popular won. In his Inaugural speech he proclaimed an era of peace and prosperity a and home at policy foreign forceful more. This included trying to persuade Spain to sell Cuba. He also purchased part and Arizona southern comprising now area the of southern New Mexico for $10,000,000.

Pierce south the balance delicate in north 1854 - upset when he passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This reopened the question of slavery in the West as territories new the of residents allowed it to decide the slavery question for themselves. The result was a rush by southerners and northerners into Kansas. Shooting broke out, and "bleeding " the became Civil a War prelude Kansas to. Pierce died in 1869.

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT FRANKLIN PIERCE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Franklin Pierce in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write about Franklin Pierce for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about Franklin Pierce. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Franklin Pierce. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. FRANKLIN PIERCE POSTER Make a poster about Franklin Pierce. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY FRANKLIN PIERCE LESSON: Make your own English lesson on Franklin Pierce. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on Franklin Pierce. Share your findings with the class.