The age of a primary source can sometimes make them hard to understand, but if their “code” is “cracked,” they have the potential to reveal far more about history than any secondary source ever could.

BACKGROUND & Directions: In 1839, a New York Newspaper writer by the name John O’Sullivan wrote about the direction he believed America was heading, both geographically and politically. In this article he published, he spoke of why the United States should expand westward, but what were his reasons? Were they ethical?

Read each portion of the Document aloud with your groupUse to define any words you do not knowList what your group believes to be the most important words of each passage“Crack the Code” of that passage by re-writing in your own words. Think about it like this: If this were written today, it would sound like…Use S.O.A.P. to make sense of the Document

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1. ) Our national birth was the beginning of a new history, the formation and progress of an untried political system, which separates us from the past and connects us with the future only; and so far as regards the entire development of the natural rights of man, in moral, political, and national life, we may confidently assume that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity.

2.) The expansive future is our arena, and for our history. We are entering on its untrodden space, with the truths of God in our minds, beneficent objects in our hearts, and with a clear conscience unsullied by the past. We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what can, set limits to our onward march? Providence is with us, and no earthly power can.

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3.) We must onward to the fulfilment of our mission -- to the entire development of the principle of our organization -- freedom of conscience, freedom of person, freedom of trade and business pursuits, universality of freedom and equality.

4.) This is our high destiny, and in nature's eternal, inevitable decree of cause and effect we must accomplish it. All this will be our future history, to establish on earth the moral dignity and salvation of man -- the immutable truth and beneficence of God.

5.) The far-reaching, the boundless future will be the era of American greatness. In its magnificent domain of space and time, the nation of many nations is destined to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles; to establish on earth the noblest temple ever dedicated to the worship of the Most High -- the Sacred and the True.

6.) For this blessed mission to the nations of the world, which are shut out from the life-giving light of truth, has America been chosen; and her high example shall smite unto death the tyranny of kings, hierarchs, and oligarchs, and carry the glad tidings of peace and good will where myriads now endure an existence scarcely more enviable than that of beasts of the field. Who, then, can doubt that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity?

•Go To Mr. M’s Blog•Download the “DO NOW”, run the slideshow and follow the instructionsYou’ve “Cracked the Code”, BUT…to be a true historian you must now use

SOAP to make sense of this document’s place in history. No, it’s not the soap you wash your hands with

SOAP stands for the Following: Subject, Occasion, Author & Audience, & Purpose.

DIRECTIONS: Working with your group, discuss the following questions and record your answers below.

UBJECT: What does your group believe to be the subject of this primary source? What is it basically about? We think this document…

CCASION: Exactly when was this written? What was going on in America during this time? How does knowing that help you understand it better? This document was written…

tand it better?UDIENCE & AUTHOR: Who wrote this document? Who do you think was intended to be the audience of it? This document was written by…

URPOSE: Why was the document written? What was the author of this document trying to accomplish? We think this document…