8th Grade History

1. Geography

1.1. Location and characteristics of places and regions of the US past and present

1.2. Physical characteristics of North America and how humans adapted to and modified the environment through the mid-19th century

2. Economics

2.1. Why various sections of the United States developed different patterns of economic activity

2.2. How various economic forces resulted in the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century

2.3. Origins and development of the free enterprise system in the United States

3. Government

3.1. American beliefs and principles reflected in the Declaration of independence, the US Constitution and other important historic documents

3.2. The process of changing the U.S. Constitution and the impact of amendments on American society

3.3. The dynamic nature of the powers of the national government and state governments in a federal system

4. Culture

4.1. Relationships between and among people from various groups, including racial, ethnic, and religious groups, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries

4.2. Major reform movements of the 19th century

4.3. Impact of religion on the American way of life

4.4. The relationship between the arts and the times during which they were created

4.5. Impact of science and technology on the economic development of the United States

5. History

5.1. Traditional historical points of reference in US History through 1877

5.2. Causes of exploration and colonization eras

5.3. Significant political and economic issues of the revolutionary era

5.4. Foundations of representative government in the United States

5.5. Challenges confronted by government and its leaders in the early years of the republic and Age of Jackson

6. Citizenship

6.1. Rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States

6.2. The importance of voluntary individual participation in the democratic process

6.3. The importance of the expression of different points of view in a constitutional republic

6.4. The importance of effective leadership in a constitutional republic