Seventh Grade Social Studies:

UNITED STATES HISTORY

Student Goals
Identify significant countries (and individuals) and their roles and motives in the European exploration of the Americas as well as individuals and circumstances relating to colonization in the Americas.
Student Outcomes
Students will:

• Explain how people first reached the Americas

• Describe the Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations

• Explain why trade flourished in the Muslim World

• Discuss how exploration set off a global exchange of goods and services

• Explain how Spain settled it’s colonies

• Explain what life was like for Native Americans under Spanish rule

• Explain why England, France, Spain and the Netherlands sought a Northwest passage to Asia

• Compare the religious, political and economic motives of voluntary immigrants to the English colonies.

• Using representative colonies, contrast the early settlement of Virginia and New England

• Describe mercantilism and analyze its impact on colonial economies

• Explain the causes of indentured servitude and slavery and analyze their impact on colonial societies

• Compare and contrast the different cultural and social influences that emerged in the North American colonies

Student Goals
Identify and explain key events leading to the creation of a strong union among the thirteen original colonies and the establishment of the United States as a federal republic.
Student Outcomes
Students will:

• Compare/contrast the social, political, and economic features of the three regions of the English colonies

• Identify challenges faced by the first English colonies in North America

• Describe how Virginia began a tradition of representative government

• Describe how European states controlled or regulated religion

• Discuss how the Pilgrims were able to survive early hardships

• Explain why colonists at Plymouth wanted the Mayflower Compact

• Discuss why the Puritans decided to leave England

• Describe and analyze the consequences of the Puritan response to dissenters

• Explain how the colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticut were established

• Explain why the colony of New Netherland became the colony of New York

• Explain why New Jersey Separated from New York

• Describe how Pennsylvania was founded

• Discuss what life was like in the Middle Colonies

• Identify colonial influences that have shaped American culture and government

• Discuss how the Great Awakening affected the colonies

• Explain the background /causes of the French and Indian War.

• Analyze the causes, effectiveness, and impact of the Proclamation of 1763.

• Analyze the multiple causes and sources of dissent leading to the outbreak of the American Revolution

• Describe how colonists protested British taxes

• Describe how Britain responded to the Boston Tea Party

• Explain why fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord

• Compare/contrast the British and colonial advantages and disadvantages

• Examine the significance of major events of the American Revolution

• Explain how women and African Americans took part in the Revolutionary War

• Analyze the political, social, and economic changes brought about by the American Revolution.

• Explain the democratic principles of the Declaration of Independence.

Student Goals
Identify fundamental values and principles as expressed in basic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution
Student Outcomes
Students will:

• Explain why state governments wrote Constitutions

• Evaluate accomplishments and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Explain how the Great Compromise helped both large and small states

• List the rights protected by the Bill of Rights

• Explain how the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are distributed and shared among the three branches of national government.

• Explain how and why powers are distributed and shared between national and state governments in the United States.

• Explain the framers’ concerns and the resulting compromises that emerged at the Constitutional Convention.

• Summarize the arguments of the Federalist and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.

• Examine/explain the fundamental principles of the United States Constitution

• Explain the fundamental powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches under the United States Constitution.

• Explain the rights and protections guaranteed to individuals in the Constitution

• Analyze how the Constitution both promotes and limits democracy.

• Describe the benefits of a national system of courts

• Explain how Washington’s policies set a precedent for future Presidents

• Analyze Washington’s concerns expressed in his Farewell Address

• Analyze Hamilton’s economic policies and Jefferson’s opposition to them.

• Explain the development and impact of the first American political party system.

• Describe how Americans reacted to the French Revolution

• Identify the policy the United States adopted when war broke out in Europe

• Explain the actions of the Adams’ administration regarding international problems (e.g. undeclared naval war with France, Alien and Sedition Acts) and analyze the political responses.