Quarter 4/Unit 4:  The Rise of America:  1870s-1900

The period from the end of Reconstruction to the turn of the century was transformative. Students will investigate and analyze the settling and conquering of the West, the expansion of industry, the establishment of large transportation networks, immigration from Europe, urban growth, accumulation of great wealth in the hands of a few, the rise of organized labor, and increased American involvement in foreign affairs. Students should also recognize and evaluate the political programs and activities of Populists, Progressives, and other reformers.

• 1. Choices have consequences

Benchmarks:

• 1. The student will recognize and evaluate significant choices made by individuals, communities, states, and nations that have impacted our lives and futures.

1.2  The student will analyze the context under which choices are made and draw conclusions about the motivations and goals of the decision-makers.

1.3  The student will investigate examples of causes and consequences of particular choices and connect those choices with contemporary issues.

1.4  The student will use his/her understanding of choices and consequences to construct a decision-making process and to justify a decision.

• 1. Individuals have rights and responsibilities

2.1  The student will recognize and evaluate the rights and responsibilities of people living in societies.

2.2  The student will analyze the context under which significant rights and responsibilities are defined and demonstrated, their various interpretations, and draw conclusions about those interpretations.

2.3  The student will investigate specific rights and responsibilities of individuals and connect those rights and responsibilities with contemporary issues.

2.4  The student will use his/her understanding of rights and responsibilities to address contemporary issues.

• 1. Societies are shaped by beliefs, ideas and diversity

3.1  The student will recognize and evaluate significant beliefs, contributions, and ideas of the many diverse peoples and groups and their impact on individuals, communities, states, and nations.

3.2  The student will draw conclusions about significant beliefs, contributions, and ideas, analyzing the origins and context under which these competing ideals were reached and the multiple perspectives from which they come.

3.3  The student will investigate specific beliefs, contributions, ideas, and/or diverse populations and connect those beliefs, contributions, ideas and/or diversity to contemporary issues.

3.4  The student will use his/her understanding of those beliefs, contributions, ideas, and diversity to justify or define how community, state, national, and international ideals shape contemporary society.

• 1. Societies experience continuity and change over time

4.1  The student will recognize and evaluate continuity and change over time and its impact on individuals, institutions, communities, states, and nations.

4.2  The student will analyze the context of continuity and change and the vehicles of reform, drawing conclusions about past change and potential future change.

4.3  The student will investigate an example of continuity and/or change and connect that continuity and/or change to a contemporary issue.

4.4  The student will use his/her understanding of continuity and change to construct a model for contemporary reform.

• 1. Relationships between people, place, idea, and environment are dynamic

5.1  The student will recognize and evaluate dynamic relationships that impact lives in communities, states, and nations.

5.2  The student will analyze the context of significant relationships and draw conclusions about a contemporary world.

5.3  The student will investigate the relationship among people, places, ideas, and/or the environment and connect those relationships to contemporary issues.

5.4  The student will use his/her understanding of these dynamic relationships to create a personal, community, state, and/or national narrative.

Same Standards for each Quarter/Unit