Course Overview

In this 8th-grade social studies course, students will embark on a comprehensive exploration of United States history from the period of colonization through Reconstruction. Through the examination of primary and secondary sources from diverse perspectives, students will develop critical thinking skills, historical analysis, and the ability to construct well-supported arguments. The course will delve into key events, individuals, and ideas that shaped the nation, with an emphasis on understanding multiple viewpoints and evaluating historical context. Students will also analyze geographic and economic factors, examine changing notions of citizenship and rights, and explore the evolution of government structures and the rule of law.  Students will determine and explain the historical context of key people and events, including the grievances of colonists against the British Parliament, the Constitutional Convention, the role of abolitionists, contributions, and grievances of Indigenous Peoples and African Americans, and the causes and effects of the Civil War.  They will also evaluate continuity and change over the course of United States history, examining major conflicts and compromises, such as the Indian Removal Act, Buffalo Soldiers, and the Sand Creek Massacre.  Students will analyze critical ideas relevant to early United States history, such as settler colonialism, changing definitions of liberty and citizenship, the enslavement of African and Indigenous Peoples, federalism, nativism, emancipation, and expansionism.  They will analyze the push and pull factors shaping immigration to and migration within the early United States, including economic opportunities, religious refuge, and forced migration, and patterns of conflict and cooperation resulting from human migration, examining economic, political, ethnic, and social implications.  Students will examine the factors leading to comparative and absolute advantage in trade, including the American System proposed by Henry Clay, and analyze major political and social changes that affected the definition of citizenship and expanded or restricted the rights of citizens, analyzing their impact on various demographic groups.  Students will engage in discussions about the importance of the Constitution and amendments made during the time period, including the Bill of Rights and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.  They will learn about the three branches of government and their interactions with historical and contemporary problems.  Throughout the course, students will engage in activities such as document analysis, class discussions, research projects, map interpretation, and presentations to develop a comprehensive understanding of United States history from colonization through Reconstruction.