Hempfield Area School District
Social Studies
US History I
Unit 1: Forming a New Nation
Subject
U.S. History I
Unit
Forming a New Nation-Unit 1
Grade 8
Content Standards
8.3.8.A.
8.3.8.B.
8.3.8.C.
CC.8.6.6-8.C.
CC.8.5.6-8.B.
Examine the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.A.
Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.
Summarize how continuity and change have impacted US history.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior
knowledge or opinions.
Understandings
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Competing forces tend to shape compromise solutions
Historical events are not isolated; they are complex and have
consequences
New ideas and beliefs can change a government’s authority leading to
change
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Essential Question(s)
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Why did Britain, Native American tribes and France fight a
war over North America?
How did the relationship between Britain and the colonies
fall apart?
How did American colonists use military and political forces
to gain their independence?
Knowledge/Concepts
Skills/Competencies
Students will know…
Students will be able to…
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British and French struggle for empire, purpose/effects of British
taxation, Americans struggle for independence
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Identify the reasons why fighting broke out between
France and Britain in North America.
Describe how the British gained French territory in North
America.
Explain the conflicts between Native Americans, British and
French.
Cite evidence of British tax policies that moved colonists
closer to rebellion.
Identify the complex political/social situations that existed
in the colonies.
Analyze and interpret the Declaration of Independence.
Assess the obstacles faced by the Continental Army during
the American Revolution.
Evaluate the impact of key individuals and alliances on the
outcome of the Revolution.
Assess the obstacles faced in creating a new nation.
Unit 2: New Republic
Subject
Unit
U.S. History I
New Republic-Unit 2
Grade 8
Content Standards
8.3.8.A.
8.3.8.B.
8.3.8.C.
CC.8.6.6-8.C.
CC.8.5.6-8.B.
5.1.8.D
5.3.8.A
Examine the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.A.
Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.
Summarize how continuity and change have impacted US history.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior
knowledge or opinions.
Summarize the basic principles and ideals within documents and the roles played by the framers as found in significant documents.
Compare and contrast the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government between Pennsylvania and the federal government.
Understandings
●
●
Competing forces tend to shape compromise solutions
Historical events are not isolated; they are complex and have
consequences
New ideas and beliefs can change a government’s authority leading to
change
●
Essential Question(s)
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What challenges did the U.S. face in creating a new
republic?
How did the founding fathers compromise to create the
U.S. Constitution?
How does the Constitution provide for the balance of
power?
How did the early leaders of the nation establish
precedence in dealing with domestic, economic and
foreign affairs?
Knowledge/Concepts
Skills/Competencies
Students will know…
Students will be able to…
●
Articles of Confederation, Constitution, Presidential administrations of
Washington and Adams, Bill of Rights, checks and balances,
federalism, Separation of Powers
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Identify the successes and failings of the Articles of
Confederation.
Analyze the ways the founders compromised in creation
of the U.S. Constitution.
Interpret the rights given in the Bill of Rights.
Interpret the structure and function of the Constitution.
Describe how Washington set the course for the new
nation.
Analyze the origin of the political parties.
Trace how Washington and Adams set the course for the
new nation.
Unit 3: Nation Expands and Changes
Subject
U.S. History I
Unit
Nation Expands and Changes-Unit 3
Grade 8
Content Standards
8.1.8.B.
8.3.8.A.
8.3.8.B.
8.3.8.C.
CC.8.6.6-8.C.
CC.8.5.6-8.B.
Compare and Contrast an historical event using multiple points of view from primary/secondary sources.
Examine the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.A.
Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.
Summarize how continuity and change have impacted US history.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior
knowledge or opinions.
Understandings
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Transition of power of power between competing political ideologies
Expansion of U.S. territory westward
America’s ability to respond to foreign threats and exert her authority
in the Western hemisphere.
Crisis and Conflict in Jacksonian America
Growth and development of Industry in the North and plantations in
the South
Growing Sectionalism regionally
Reform and change in the 19th Century
Essential Question(s)
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How was Jefferson able to double the size of the U.S. by
way of the Louisiana Purchase?
How did Adams deal with competing interests at home
and abroad?
How did the Monroe Doctrine shape American foreign
policy?
How did the Election of 1824 lead to the modern
Presidential campaign?
How were Native Americans treated during the Era of
Jackson?
Why did South Carolina threaten to secede from the Union
during Jackson’s administration?
In what ways were social issues dealt with (women,
minorities, etc.)
How did the annexation of Texas increase tensions with
Mexico?
How did the Industrial Revolution lead to social inequality
and conflict with the South
Knowledge/Concepts
Skills/Competencies
Students will know…
Students will be able to…
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Laissez-faire, judicial review, Westward expansion, nationalism,
capitalism, spoils system, Indian Removal Act, Industrial Revolution,
urbanization, compromise, Social reformers, abolition, women’s rights,
Manifest Destiny, Mexican-American War
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Analyze the process by which new territory was added to
the Union.
Explain how war in Europe hurt American trade.
Analyze causes and the lasting impacts of the War of
1812.
Describe how the Federal government strengthened
during the Era of Good Feelings
Assess the impact of the Monroe Doctrine on American
foreign policy.
Describe the events which led to conflict over national
bank and tariffs.
Summarize the domestic policies of Jackson’s
administration and the conflicts that ensued.
Explain the changes the Industrial Revolution brought to
American life.
Identify problems Americans faced moving westward.
Analyze the divisiveness caused by abolitionists.
Describe the challenges Americans faced moving
westward.
Explain how the United States achieved Manifest Destiny.
Unit 4: Road to the Civil War
Subject
U.S. History I
Unit
Road to the Civil War-Unit 4
Grade 8
Content Standards
8.3.8.A.
8.3.8.B.
8.3.8.C.
CC.8.6.6-8.C.
CC.8.5.6-8.B.
5.1.8.D
5.3.8.A
Examine the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.A.
Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.
Summarize how continuity and change have impacted US history.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior
knowledge or opinions.
Summarize the basic principles and ideals within documents and the roles played by the framers as found in significant documents.
Compare and contrast the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government between Pennsylvania and the federal government.
Understandings
●
●
●
●
●
Competing forces tend to shape compromise solutions
Historical events are not isolated; they are complex and have
consequences
Slavery impacts society
Regional interests shape societies and cause conflict
Wars have consequences
Essential Question(s)
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How does slavery impact society?
How do regional differences cause conflict?
How do the consequences of war affect nations
Knowledge/Concepts
Skills/Competencies
Students will know…
Students will be able to…
●
States’ rights, compromise of 1850, Kansas Nebraska Act, Dred Scott,
Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown’s raid, Secession, Election of
Lincoln, Sumter, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, Key
military conflicts, surrender at Appomattox
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Describe how the question of admission of new states to
the Union fueled the debate over slavery and states’ rights
Dissect the Compromise of 1850 and discuss why it failed
Evaluate how the Lincoln-Douglass debates and John
Brown’s raid increased tensions between the North and
the South
Trace how the election of Abraham Lincoln sparked the
secession of southern states
Explain why each side in the Civil War believed the war
would be won easily
Cite evidence as to how each side tried to gain an
advantage over the other.
Explain the causes and effects of the Emancipation
Proclamation
Describe how the war affected people and politics in the
North and South
Analyze how Lincoln and his generals turned the tide of
war.