Lessons on American Presidents.com
  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor was the United States’ 12th President. He was born in Virginia in 1784 and taken as an infant to Kentucky to be raised on a plantation. He lived in a small wood cabin, before moving to a brick house as a result of his family's increased prosperity. He shared the house with seven brothers and sisters. Since there were no schools on the Kentucky frontier, Taylor had only a basic education.

Taylor joined the U.S. Army in 1808. He was promoted to captain in 1810 and in 1812, he successfully defended Indiana’s Fort Harrison from attack by Native Americans. He spent the next three decades winning major military victories, including the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 during the Mexican-American War. This last battle elevated him to being a national hero and compared with George Washington.

Taylor decided to enter politics in 1848. With his reputation as a war hero and his straight talking, he won the 1848 presidential election. The slavery issue dominated much of Taylor’s term in office, especially because he owned 100 slaves. He advised California and New Mexico to apply for statehood. Southern leaders threatened to break away from the Union as the new states would reject bills allowing slavery.

Taylor stood firm against the possible rebellion. He said he would personally lead the Army in a fight against them and hang “persons taken in rebellion…with less reluctance than…hanged deserters and spies in Mexico”. He never wavered, but events took an unexpected turn. He died in 1850 as a compromise was being drafted. The conflict he warned of started eleven years later – the American Civil War.

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

Zachary Taylor was the United States’ 12th President. He was born in Virginia in 1784 and _____________________ to Kentucky to be raised on a plantation. He lived in a small wood cabin, before moving to a brick house _____________________ family's increased prosperity. He shared the house with seven brothers and sisters. Since there were no schools on the Kentucky frontier, Taylor had _____________________.

Taylor joined the U.S. Army in 1808. He _____________________ in 1810 and in 1812, he successfully defended Indiana’s Fort Harrison from attack by Native Americans. He spent _______________________ winning major military victories, including the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 during the Mexican-American War. This last _____________________ to being a national hero and compared with George Washington.

Taylor _____________________ politics in 1848. With his reputation as a war hero and his straight talking, he won the 1848 presidential election. The _____________________ much of Taylor’s term in office, especially because he owned 100 slaves. He advised California and New Mexico to apply for statehood. Southern leaders threatened to break away from the Union as the new states _____________________ allowing slavery.

Taylor stood firm against _____________________. He said he would personally lead the Army in a fight against them and hang “persons taken in rebellion…_____________________ than…hanged deserters and spies in Mexico”. He never wavered, but events took an unexpected turn. He died in 1850 as a compromise _____________________. The conflict he warned of started eleven years later – the American Civil War.

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

Zachary Taylor was the United States’ 12th President. He was born in Virginia in 1784 and taken as an anfitn to Kentucky to be raised on a plantation. He lived in a small wood cabin, before moving to a brick house as a result of his family's increased tpyesriopr. He shared the house with seven brothers and sisters. Since there were no schools on the Kentucky frontier, Taylor had only a scabi education.

Taylor joined the U.S. Army in 1808. He was mtrpeodo to captain in 1810 and in 1812, he successfully defended Indiana’s Fort Harrison from attack by Native Americans. He spent the next three decades winning major liriamyt victories, including the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 during the Mexican-American War. This last battle elevated him to being a national hero and apoermdc with George Washington.

Taylor cddeedi to enter politics in 1848. With his reputation as a war hero and his straight talking, he won the 1848 presidential election. The slavery issue adtdeiomn much of Taylor’s term in office, especially because he owned 100 slaves. He advised California and New Mexico to apply for statehood. Southern leaders threatened to break away from the Union as the new states would reject bills allowing vryales.

Taylor stood firm against the possible lonerlebi. He said he would personally lead the Army in a fight against them and hang “persons taken in rebellion…with less reluctance than…hanged deserters and spies in Mexico”. He never rdvewae, but events took an unexpected turn. He died in 1850 as a compromise was being edatrdf. The conflict he warned of started eleven years later – the American Civil War.

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

Zachary Taylor was the United States’ 12th President. He was born in Virginia in an 1784 infant and to taken Kentucky as to be raised on a plantation. He lived in a small wood cabin, before moving brick a his a as of to house result family's increased prosperity. brothers seven with house the shared He and sisters. Since there were no schools on the Kentucky frontier, Taylor had only a basic education.

Taylor joined the U.S. Army in 1808. He was promoted to captain in 1810 and successfully he 1812 in Indiana’s defended Fort Harrison from attack by Native Americans. He spent the next decades three victories military major winning, including the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 during the Mexican-American War. This last national a being to him elevated battle hero and compared with George Washington.

Taylor decided to enter politics in 1848. With his reputation as a war hero and his straight talking, he won the 1848 presidential election. much Taylor’s slavery dominated of The issue term in office, especially slaves 100 owned he because. He advised California and New Mexico to apply for statehood. Southern leaders Union the from away break to threatened as the new states would reject bills allowing slavery.

against possible Taylor firm the rebellion stood. He said he would personally lead the Army in a fight against them and hang “persons taken in rebellion…with less reluctance than…hanged deserters and spies in Mexico”. He never wavered, but events took an unexpected turn. He was compromise a as 1850 in died being drafted. eleven he years warned later of The started conflict – the American Civil War.

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT ZACHARY TAYLOR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Zachary Taylor 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 Zachary Taylor 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 Zachary Taylor. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. ZACHARY TAYLOR POSTER Make a poster about Zachary Taylor. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY ZACHARY TAYLOR LESSON: Make your own English lesson on Zachary Taylor. 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 Zachary Taylor. Share your findings with the class.