1. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the significant developments of the Colonial Era

• explain the development of democratic institutions founded on Judeo-Christian religious principles and in English parliamentary traditions
  
• explain the development of the economies of the three main geographic sections of the colonies in terms of agriculture, commerce and manufacturing
  
• analyze and describe the major geographic differences and economies of the colonies and how they affected relations between colonies.

2. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the principles underlying the American Revolution

• describe major events and ideas leading to the War for Independence (e.g., Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Boston Tea Party, social contract, consent of the governed, etc.)
  
• explain the Patriots cause after studying passages from original sources including Paine's Common Sense, political sermons, and letters
  
• analyze key phrases of the Declaration of Independence and how they justified revolution
  
• explain contributions of our founding fathers with major emphasis on Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington
  
• analyze the principles of the revolution and their influence on later revolutions throughout the world.

3. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the shaping of the Constitution and the type of government it created

• explain the historic origins of self-government in England and the American colonies with special emphasis on the following documents: Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights and the Mayflower Compact. Attention should also be given to the Virginia House of Burgesses and the New England town meeting as forms of political expression
  
• explain how the new Constitution addressed the issues of the time which the Articles of Confederation could not adequately solve
  
• explain the major compromises made by the various political entities present at the constitutional convention and describe how they reflected key issues of representation and slavery
  
• analyze the role Alexander Hamilton played in establishing the new government (include compromises made, the Federalist papers, ratification debate, and the establishment of the banking system).

4. All students will be able to explain the challenges facing the new nation and its leaders in the first quarter century of the Republic under the Constitution

• examine the problems confronting the Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison administrations and assess the policies enacted to meet the challenges facing the new nation
  
• explore the constitutional dilemma Jefferson faced when confronted with Napoleon's offer of the Louisiana Territory
  
• evaluate the Lewis and Clark expedition in terms of its goals and achievements
  
• explain the integration of education and democracy symbolized in the Northwest Ordinance and defend Jefferson's dictum that democracy cannot survive without an educated public
  
• examine the writings of Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper, in order to describe the daily life of ordinary people in the new nation and explain the development of a distinctly "American" literature.

5. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the influence of the American West on the politics, economy and social development of the nation

• explain what is meant by "Jacksonian Democracy" and evaluate its importance in expanding political democracy in the United states
  
• describe the major policies of Andrew Jackson including the Bank veto, Indian removal and nullification
  
• relate the democratizing effect of frontier life on the family
  
• assess the impact of Manifest Destiny on the opening of the Trans-Mississippi west to American settlement from the time of the Louisiana Purchase to the admission of California as a state
  
• describe the geographic barriers to western settlement and the stories of Individuals who explored the region
  
• analyze the reasons why many Americans migrated westward during this era
  
• compare the religious motives of the Mormons with those of Oregon missionaries
  
• analyze and explain the causes and consequences of the Texas Revolution of 1836 and the Mexican War of 1846
  
• using primary source documents, biographies, and literary works, describe the human drama of the Cherokee "Trail of Tears" pioneer settlement of the west, and individuals inexorably caught up in the conflicts between Mexico and the United States in the Southwest.

6. All students will explain the importance of the Industrial Revolution in the Northeast and its impact on the nation

• students will list the inventions between 1790 and 1850 which transformed manufacturing, transportation, mining, communication, agriculture and explain the social and economic impact on the lives of the American people
  
• following examination of the literature of the day, e.g., Dickens' American Notes, de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, and letters from women working in the Lowell mills, students will explain the political, economic and social aspects of the Industrial Revolution in the Northeast
  
• identify the leading reformers of the day, describe how they addressed certain issues, and evaluate the effectiveness of their programs.

7. All students will explain the causes and consequences of the Civil War

• explain the social, political, cultural, and economic causes of the conflict
  
• explain the significance of such events as the Wilmot Proviso, Compromises of 1820 and 1850, and the Dred Scott case
  
• analyze the constitutional issues posed by the doctrine of nullification and secession
  
• describe military strategies, technological advances in weaponry, major campaigns, and the human costs of warfare
  
• assess the leadership of Lincoln by analyzing his speeches and decisions during the war years
  
• assess the reaction of the South to Lincoln's election
  
• evaluate the social, economic, and political aspects of Reconstruction, including amendments to the Constitution and civil rights legislation
  
• research and explain Reconstruction through the perspectives of freed men, "Carpetbaggers," and ex-Confederates
  
• explain why emancipation did not guarantee black southerners economic opportunities.

8. All students will explain how industrialization, immigration, and expansion transformed the United States in the years 1877-1914

• students will identify inventions and technological developments and explain how they affected life in America
  
• analyze the term "Gilded Age" and assess its impact. Include the role entrepreneurs played in making the United States an industrial power
  
• describe the impact of immigrants on the American economy
  
• trace the migration of people from farm to city and describe their adjustment to urban life
  
• describe how territorial expansion and industrial development affected native Americans. Read passages from Chief Joseph's surrender to describe the heroism and tragedy of this time
  
• analyze the foreign policies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson and their impact on the changing role of the United States in foreign affairs
  
• explain the development of public education during the early part of the twentieth century by studying passages from McGuffey's Reader to better understand the period.

9. All students will demonstrate knowledge of the legal system as it impacts the lives of juveniles

• compare and contrast the legal system as it applies to adults and juveniles
  
• debate the pros and cons of probation
  
• describe detention facilities specifically designed to house juveniles and contrast them with adult facilities
  
• analyze the punishment system for juveniles and draw conclusions as to its effectiveness in curtailing juvenile crime.