Alabama State Capitals | Yellowhammer History Hunt

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

4

Overview

Learn how Alabama became the 22nd US state in this episode of Yellowhammer History Hunt. Explore Alabama's five capitals through archaeology and geography. Find out how transportation, population, and politics influenced their locations.

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.5

Describe Alabama’s entry into statehood and establishment of its three branches of government and the constitutions.

UP:SS10.4.5

Vocabulary

  • legislative
  • executive
  • judicial
  • constitution
  • senate
  • congress
  • house of representatives
  • governor
  • checks and balances
  • capital
  • capitol

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Alabama has had six different constitutions. Alabama has three branches of Government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial.
  • The reasons why Alabama has had five different capitals.
  • The roles of prominent political leaders during early statehood in Alabama, including William Wyatt Bibb, Thomas Bibb, Israel Pickens, William Rufus King, and John W. Walker.
  • What the U.S. Constitution and the Northwest Territory require of a territory to become a state.
  • The history of early settlements in Alabama and the cession of Indian lands.
  • What it means to have a republican form of government.

Skills

The students are able to:
  • Analyze Alabama's entry into statehood.
  • Identify and differentiate the roles of the three branches of government.
  • Compare and contrast Alabama's constitutions.
  • Explain political and geographic reasons for changes in location of Alabama's state capital.
  • Recognize roles of prominent political leaders during early statehood in Alabama, including William Wyatt Bibb, Thomas Bibb, Israel Pickens, William Rufus King, and John W. Walker.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Many prominent people were involved in Alabama's entry into statehood and that our government was designed in a way that allowed a system of checks and balances to be in place.

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

Attribution Non-Commercial

Accessibility

Audio resources: includes a transcript or subtitles
Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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