Grades 7-8: Civics Content

Concepts
- Change
- Government
- Political systems
- Decision making
- Imperialism
- Nationalism
- Power
- Citizenship
- Civil and human rights
- Civic values (e.g., honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect for self, others and property. Adapted from National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994. Center for Civic Education.)
- Interdependence
- Nation state
- Constitution
- Liberty
- Equality
- Justice
- Democracy
- Rules and laws
- Common good
Content Understandings
- The Global Heritage of the American People Prior to 1500
  - The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) developed cultural patterns that reflected their needs and values
  - Government: Iroquois Confederacy and political organizations at the village level (tribal organization)
- European Exploration and Colonization of the Americas
  - English colonies: New England, Middle Atlantic, Southern
  - Political Systems: the Mayflower Compact
  - New Netherland, French and Spanish colonies
  - Political systems and social order
- A Nation is Created
  - Impact of the French and Indian Wars: Albany Plan of Union
  - Political thought of the Enlightenment influenced prominent colonial leaders; Declaration of Independence
  - Early attempts to govern the newly independent states: Second Continental Congress, Articles of Confederation, state constitutions including the New York State Constitution of 1777
  - The writing, structure, and adoption of the United States Constitution: major issues, underlying legal and political principles, structure and function of the federal government, constitution as a “living document,” the unwritten constitution, ratification process, and Bill of Rights
- Life in the New Nation
  - The new government in operation: George Washington as president, judicial review, the Missouri Compromise
  - The Age of Jackson: expansion of suffrage, citizenship, new political parties
  - Preindustrial America: abolition movement and slavery debates, women’s rights, reform issues
- Division and Reunion
  - Abolition of slavery, Emancipation Proclamation, and Civil War amendments: 13th, 14th, and 15th
  - Segregation held legal, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
- An Industrial Society
  - Role of government in an industrial age: Laissez-faire versus government regulations
  - Legal basis for citizenship: citizenship by “law of the soil,” citizenship by birth to an United States citizen, citizenship through naturalization
  - Responsibilities of citizenship: knowledgeable about the process of government, informed about major political issues, participates in the political process (e.g., voting, petitioning, campaigning, informing)
  - Progressive movement and efforts to reform government: primary elections, the initiative, the referendum, and the recall election
  - Direct election of senators (17th Amendment)
  - Women’s suffrage (19th Amendment)
- The United States as an Independent Nation in an Increasingly Interdependent World
  - The Spanish-American War signaled the emergence of the United States as a world power- role of “yellow journalism” and public opposition to American imperialism (e.g., first amendment issues)
  - The United States entered World War I: war promoted intolerance, e.g., the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918; “hyphenated Americans” have their loyalty questioned (e.g., civil rights challenged)
- The United States between the Wars
  - Foreign immigration and black migration resulted in a very diverse population and an increase in social tensions: restrictions on immigration, growth of organizations to fight discrimination, rise of right wing hate groups (e.g., violations of civil rights; civic values questioned)
  - The Great Depression and its effects on civil liberties, equality and human dignity
- The United States Assumes Worldwide Responsibilities
  - World War II: violations of human rights as evidenced by the internment of Japanese-Americans and the Nazi Holocaust in Europe; United States response to the Nazi Holocaust ; Fort Ontario at Oswego, New York; and the Nuremberg Trials
  - Creation of the United Nations: human rights issues; United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and role played by Eleanor Roosevelt; United Nations actions to promote world peace and security, guarantee human rights, and protect children
  - Civil rights movement placed focus on equality and democracy: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Supreme Court decisions to protect individual rights (i.e., Miranda v. Arizona (1966) and Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
  - Constitution challenged: nation split over involvement in Vietnam War, groups turn to violence to reach their goals, resignation of President Nixon (Watergate)