United States History: Quarter 1

Chapter 1: Colonizing America (1607 - 1754)

Essential Questions:

  1. How did the movement of people, goods, and ideas cause social changes over time?
  2. How were the colonies affected by global conflicts?
  3. How did the colonies develop identities independent of Great Britain

"I Can"

  1. Explain what led England to establish colonies in North America.
  2. Describe how the English colonies organized themselves and identify their early goals.
  3. Identify how the English colonies were affected by European events.
  4. Describe how the three colonial regions reflected geographic and social differences.
  5. Contrast the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies.
  6. Explain how the Navigation Acts affected colonial economies.
  7. Explain how the Glorious Revolution affected the English colonies.
  8. Describe the effects of the Enlightenment and Great Awakening on colonial society.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.c.h
  4. Ss.Hist3.a.h

Chapter 2: The American Revolution (1754 - 1783)

Essential Questions:

  1. Why do people rebel?

"I Can"

  1. Describe how the French and Indian War affected the colonies.
  2. Identify what actions by Great Britain angered the American colonists after the French and Indian War.
  3. Describe how the colonists began resisting British policies.
  4. Explain what caused the colonies to begin their revolution against Great Britain.
  5. Describe how the battles at Lexington and Concord shaped the American Revolution.
  6. Identify how written statements help define the American Revolution.
  7. Compare and contrast the opposing sides of the Revolutionary War.
  8. Articulate how the colonial army kept itself in the war during it's difficult early years.
  9. Identify the turning point of the Revolutionary War.
  10. Describe how the Revolutionary War ended.
  11. Evaluate the new political ideas of the new American republic.
  12. Describe how life changed for women, African Americans, Native Americans, and Loyalists after the Revolutionary War.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. Ss.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.b.h
  4. SS.Hist2.c.h
  5. SS.Hist3.a.h

Chapter 3: Creating a Constitution (1781 - 1789)

Essential Questions:

  1. What gives a government authority?


"I Can"

  1. Describe how the government operated under the Articles of Confederation.
  2. Identify the challenges the new American government faced.
  3. Identify who attended the Constitutional Convention and describe the problems they faced.
  4. Assess the compromises that were made to create the new constitutional government.
  5. Explain how the constitutional government was structured.
  6. Describe the debate over accepting the Constitution and contrast the opposing sides.
  7. Summarize what occurred during the ratification process, and explain how ratification was completed.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.a.h
  4. Ss.Hist2.b.h
  5. SS.Hist2.c.h
  6. SS.Hist3.a.h
  7. SS.Hist4.a.h
  8. SS.Hist4.b.h
  9. SS.Hist4.d.h


Chapter 4: Federalists and Republicans (1789 - 1816)

Essential Questions:

  1. Why do people form political parties?


"I Can"

  1. Describe the challenges the United States faced in organizing its new financial system.
  2. Contrast what defined the two emerging political parties during this time.
  3. Analyze how Washington negotiated problems with foreign countries.
  4. Summarize the disagreements between the first political parties in the United States.
  5. Identify the changes that occurred in the United States during the Jefferson administration.
  6. Indicate how Jefferson avoided being involved in the war between France and Great Britain.
  7. Evaluate what led the United States into the War of 1812.
  8. Assess whether the decision for war was a popular one for Americans.
  9. Describe the outcome of the War of 1812.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist.1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.a.h
  4. SS.Hist2.b.h
  5. SS.Hist2.c.h
  6. SS.Hist3.a.h
  7. SS.Hist4.b.h

Chapter 5: Growth and Division (1816 - 1832)

Essential Questions:

  1. How did the nation's economy help shape its politics?
  2. How did the economic differences between the North and South cause tensions?


"I Can"

  1. Characterize the United States during the Era of Good Feelings.
  2. Explain how the Marshall Court strengthened the national government.
  3. Describe American diplomacy during the Era of Good Feelings.
  4. Explain how improved transportation improved the nation's economy.
  5. illustrate how the Industrial Revolution changed the economy and way of life.
  6. Describe how the northern United States changed during this time period.
  7. Explain how the Southern economy became dependent upon cotton and slavery.
  8. Explain what words best describe the Southern society in the early 19th century.
  9. Describe how enslaved African Americans coped with their working conditions.
  10. Summarize the goal of the Missouri Compromise.
  11. Evaluate the impact of the elections of 1824 and 1828 in the United States.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.a.h
  4. SS.Hist2.c.h
  5. SS.Hist3.a.h

Chapter 6: The Spirit of Reform (1828 - 1845)

Essential Questions:

  1. Can average citizens change society?
  2. How did reforms of this era increase tensions between North and South?


"I Can"

  1. Explain why this time period is considered a new era in politics.
  2. Contrast the issues that led to the nullification crisis.
  3. Evaluate how the lives of Native Americans changed under the Jackson administration.
  4. Summarize why Jackson was against the Second Bank of United Stats and how his opposition shaped the country.
  5. Explain why many German and Irish immigrants traveled to the United States in the mid-1800s.
  6. Analyze the overall message of the Second Great Awakening and identify how it affected American society.
  7. Interpret how the writings of this time reflected American society.
  8. Evaluate the motivations of reformers to tackle the societal problems of this time.
  9. Discuss how the lives of women changed from the colonial period to the mid-1800s.
  10. Compare the different methods of ending slavery that were debated during this time.
  11. Analyze why abolitionism was not a popular movement in the North or the South.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.c.h
  4. SS.Hist3.a.h
  5. SS.Hist3.b.h
  6. SS.Hist4.c.h

Chapter 7: Manifest Destiny (1820 - 1848)

Essential Questions:

  1. Why did people want to move west in the 1800s?
  2. How did westward migration affect the relationship between the United States and other countries and peoples during this time?

"I Can"

  1. Explain how the idea of Manifest Destiny and new agricultural equipment encouraged western settlement.
  2. Evaluate the decision by many settlers to travel west.
  3. Explain how life changed for many Mexicans living in the northern territories after gaining independence from Spain.
  4. Summarize how American influence increased after Mexican independence.
  5. Analyze how the growing Americanization of Texas affected the Americans' relationship with the Mexican government.
  6. Compare and contrast the Texas war for independence to the American Revolution.
  7. Explain why some Americans were against the idea of annexing Texas.
  8. Appraise whether the war with Mexico was justified.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.a.h
  4. SS.Hist2.c.h
  5. SS.Hist3.a.h
  6. SS.Hist3.b.h

Chapter 8: Sectional Conflict Intensifies (1848 - 1861)

Essential Questions:

  1. Was the Civil War inevitable?

"I Can"

  1. Assess whether the North or the South achieved more of its goals in the Compromise of 1850.
  2. Determine under what circumstances, if any, should citizens disobey a law.
  3. Explain why Kansas became a battleground between pro-slavery and antislavery groups.
  4. Identify what evens led to the creation of the Republican Party.
  5. Summarize how Lincoln and the Republican Party benefited from the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
  6. Compare John Brown's revolt to similar events in U.S. History.
  7. Explain how the South reacted to the election of a Republican President.
  8. Defend your belief whether it is ever appropriate for the government to declare martial law.


Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies

  1. SS.Hist1.a.h
  2. SS.Hist1.b.h
  3. SS.Hist2.a.h
  4. SS.Hist2.b.h
  5. SS.Hist3.a.h