Middle School Programs Building Healthy Core Learning th 8 Grade Social Studies, Unit 4
8th Grade UNIT 4 OVERVIEW: The Early History and New Governments of the United States and North Carolina Unit Outcomes At the end of this unit, your student should be able to: Evaluate and explain how fear of tyranny led to the initial creation of a weak central government. Assess the factors, geographic and otherwise, that hindered the growth and support of the new government. Determine the ways in which the Constitution both ensured and denied Americans’ access to the rights fought for in the Revolutionary War. Evaluate the contents of the Bill of Rights and the historical precedent for each. Contrast the regional economies of the 13 colonies and their impact on acceptance of the new Federal government.
Key Standards Addressed
Connections to Common Core/NC Essential Standards H.2.3 Summarize the role of debate, compromise, and negotiation during significant periods in the history of North Carolina and the United States. C&G.1.1 Summarize democratic ideals expressed in local, state, and national government (e.g. limited government, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, republicanism, federalism and individual rights). C&G.1.3 Analyze differing viewpoints on the scope and power of state and national governments (e.g. Federalists and anti-Federalists, education, immigration and healthcare). C&G.1.4 Analyze access to democratic rights and freedoms among various groups in North Carolina and the United States (e.g. enslaved people, women, wage earners, landless farmers, American Indians, African Americans and other ethnic groups). E.1.1 Explain how conflict, cooperation, and competition influenced periods of economic growth and decline (e.g. economic depressions and recessions).
Key Vocabulary
Terms to deepen the student’s understanding Constitution Separation of Powers. Enlightenment Bi-cameral Preamble Congress Bill of Rights Senate Executive Branch House of Legislative Branch Representatives Judicial Branch President Checks and Balances Vice-President Federalists Cabinet Alexander Hamilton Impeach Anti-Federalists George Washington Thomas Jefferson Whiskey Rebellion.
Where This Unit Fits Connections to prior and future learning Coming into this unit, students should have a strong foundation in: The regional differences that led some colonists to support revolution and others to question it. The ongoing tensions between Britain, Spain, and France and how this led to the support of the American colonies from the French and Spanish. The advantages and disadvantages of each side during the Revolution. The decisions and methods used by the Continental Congress to unify the thirteen colonies. The reasons for the colonists’ fear of taxation and tyranny. This unit builds to the following future skills and concepts: Constructing charts, graphs, and historical narratives to explain particular events or issues. Summarizing the literal meaning of historical documents in order to establish context. Using primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives. Using historical inquiry to evaluate the validity of sources used to construct historical narratives.
Middle School Programs Building Healthy Core Learning th 8 Grade Social Studies, Unit 4
8th Grade UNIT 4 OVERVIEW: The Early History and New Governments of the United States and North Carolina Additional Resources Materials to support understanding and enrichment DiscoveryEd Board - The United States Government: Resources gathered by WCPSS teachers for use by teachers, students, and parents US History: Pre-Columbian to the New Millennium: A free, online “textbook” Learn NC Digital Textbook: Early National History: A free, online “textbook” from UNC Chapel Hill covering the history of North Carolina
“Learning Checks”
Questions Parents Can Use to Assess Understanding What were the Articles of Confederation? Why did colonial leaders initially create a weak central government? How did geography play a role in the creation of the new US government? What role did North Carolina play in the creation of a new nation and government? What were some of the key compromises made in writing the Constitution? What protections did the framers put into the Constitution to ensure citizens’ rights would be protected from the government?
