1. To describe Van Buren's character as reflected in his lifestyle; 2. To explain Van Buren's political views and his role the Jacksonian Era; 3. To understand national issues of the 1830s and positions taken by political parties; 4. To identify ways in which political campaigns act as expressions of popular culture; 5. To compare Van Buren's attitude toward the depression of 1837 with Herbert Hoover's stance toward the Great Depression of the 1930s; 6. To study a recent campaign in their area.
Recommended level: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
1. Martin Van Buren: Character, Lifestyle, and the Jacksonian Era
2. Economic Crisis and Political Response: Van Buren, Hoover, and Beyond