United States History Content Standards

1.1.01

Explain the peopling of North America. Explain the cultures and legacies of the major indigenous settlements in pre-Columbian North America.

1.1.02

Describe the early explorations of the New World by the Vikings.

1.1.03

Analyze the economic trade system with the Far East, the political empire building in Europe, and the scientific advances that prompted the voyages of exploration in the late fifteenth century.

1.1.04

Explain the motives of Christopher Columbus and other major explorers in the New World; trace their routes and describe their accomplishments.

1.1.05

Compare and contrast the goals and extent of Spanish, French, Dutch, and English settlements in the New World.

1.1.06

Explain the early conflicts, cooperation, and cultural exchange between the European settlers and the indigenous peoples in North America.

2.1.01

Describe the major leaders and groups responsible for founding the original English colonies in North America. Analyze the distinctive characteristics of various colonies and the underlying reasons for their establishment.

2.1.02

Describe the demographic characteristics of New World settlements and explain the differing reasons people came to the colonies from both Europe and Africa.

2.1.03

Describe the distinctions between the various kinds of colonies and the structure and functions of the different kinds of colonial governments.

2.1.04

Explain the influence of British political and legal traditions in shaping political principles and institutions of colonial America.

2.1.05

Describe the economic and social factors that led to the expansion of slavery in the colonies at the end of the seventeenth century and the groups involved in the African slave trade.

2.1.06

Describe the tensions between colonial governors and assemblies and early examples of resistance to colonial authority.

2.2.01

Identify and locate the thirteen original colonies and describe how regional geographic differences influenced the growth and development of agricultural practices and commercial economies during the eighteenth century.

2.2.02

Describe the regions involved in transatlantic trade, what was exchanged among those regions, and the economic theory of mercantilism undergirding trade.

2.2.03

Explain the African antecedents to the North Atlantic slave trade and describe the slave experience in the Middle Passage.

2.2.04

Describe the major sources of eighteenth century immigration and the settlement patterns of immigrant groups.

2.2.05

Explain the growth of labor-intensive plantation economies in North America. Describe the role of Africans, Europeans, and British colonists in the economic exploitation of slaves.

2.2.06

Describe the conditions of enslaved and free Africans in the colonies, the reactions of Africans to their treatment, and the colonial response to the growing number of slaves.

2.2.07

Describe similarities and differences in education and family life for men, women, and children in New England, the Middle colonies, and the South.

2.2.08

Identify and describe the roles of the major leaders of the First Great Awakening, describe its effect on religious beliefs and practices, and explain its significance in the development of the colonies.

3.1.01

Explain the causes of the Seven Years War (French and Indian War), identify and describe the major battles and participants (individuals and groups), and explain the consequences and significance of the conflict.

3.1.02

Describe the factors and events that led to the Revolutionary War.

3.1.03

Analyze how Enlightenment thought is reflected in the key ideas of the "Declaration of Independence," including equality, natural rights, the rule of law, the right of revolution, the consent of the governed, and the purpose of government.

3.1.04

Analyze the issues that divided colonists into Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutrals and the roles these groups played in the Revolutionary War.

3.1.05

Describe the significance of the major battles, campaigns, and turning points during the Revolutionary War. Explain the factors leading to American victory and British defeat in the Revolutionary War.

3.1.06

Describe the roles and achievements of political and military leaders during the revolutionary era.

3.1.07

Describe the contributions of women in the public and private arena during the revolutionary era.

3.1.08

Describe African-American and Native American experiences during the revolutionary era.

3.1.09

Describe the major strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, as well as the events that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

3.1.10

Explain how the experience of the American Revolution and the intellectual influences leading to it contributed to the formation and framework of the American government.

3.1.11

Describe the major debates and compromises that occurred at the Constitutional Convention. Describe the backgrounds and contributions of key individuals involved in the Constitutional Convention.

3.1.12

Explain the debate over the ratification of the Constitution between key Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Describe the ideas contained in Federalist Papers 10, 51, and 78 as well as the views of the anti-Federalists.

3.1.13

Describe the freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights and explain the reasons for its passage.

3.2.01

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of George Washington and analyze their significance.

3.2.02

Explain the beliefs and events that led to "strict" versus "loose" interpretations of the Constitution embedded in the conflicting visions and philosophies of Democratic-Republicans and Federalists.

3.2.03

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of John Adams and analyze their significance.

3.2.04

Analyze the issues and significance of the presidential election of 1800.

3.2.05

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson and analyze their significance.

3.2.06

Explain the evolution of the judiciary under Chief Justice John Marshall.

3.2.07

Describe the causes, events, and results of the War of 1812 and the evolution of American foreign policy afterwards. Explain the impact of the Monroe Doctrine.

4.1.01

Explain the rising levels of political participation and the expansion of suffrage in antebellum America.

4.1.02

Describe the elections of 1824 and 1828 in terms of the importance and growth of Jacksonian democracy.

4.1.03

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson and analyze their significance.

4.1.04

Describe prominent people and reform movements for social justice in antebellum America.

4.1.05

Analyze religious and intellectual trends and movements that shaped antebellum America.

4.2.01

Describe Clay's "American System" and its effects on the growth of the national market economy.

4.2.02

Explain the changes in antebellum American society as a result of industrial growth.

4.2.03

Explain the concept of Manifest Destiny as expressed by John Sullivan and its relationship to westward expansion.

4.2.04

Describe the cultures and varied experiences of Native Americans during antebellum America and the effect of federal policies.

4.2.05

Describe the rapid growth of slavery in the South after 1800, and the changes in the South's "peculiar institution."

4.2.06

Analyze attempts to abolish slavery and arguments in defense of slavery.

4.2.07

Explain the major events and policies surrounding slavery leading up to the Civil War.

4.2.08

Describe the varied experiences of free and enslaved African Americans.

5.1.01

Explain how the different economies and cultures of the North and South contributed to the growing importance of sectional identity and politics.

5.1.02

Describe the candidates, issues and significance of the presidential election of 1860. Discuss the events that followed Lincoln's victory.

5.1.03

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and analyze their significance. Explain the significance of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural.

5.1.04

Analyze the Confederate views on slavery and secession. Compare and contrast the United States Constitution with the Confederate Constitution.

5.1.05

Identify the states that were part of the Union, those that were part of the Confederacy, and the role of the Border States in the Civil War. Discuss domestic responses to the Civil War.

5.1.06

Analyze the roles and contributions of major Civil War figures and describe the significance of important battles and events. Describe each side's advantages and disadvantages.

5.1.07

Discuss the physical, social, and economic destruction of the South caused by the Civil War.

5.1.08

Describe the different plans for Reconstruction. Explain the issues and events of Reconstruction and their effects. Describe the candidates, issues and significance of the presidential election of 1876.

5.1.09

Describe the effects of Reconstruction on African Americans.

6.1.01

Describe the roles and achievements of the major leaders of big business and explain the reasons for American economic growth in the late nineteenth century.

6.1.02

Explain both the sources of immigration and its impact on the growth of cities in the late nineteenth century.

6.1.03

Explain the ways in which industrialization increased individual wealth and decreased worker autonomy.

6.1.04

Describe the emergence of worker unions and labor strikes that illustrate the pattern of labor relations and the role of government in late nineteenth century America.

6.1.05

Describe the major political scandals of the "Gilded Age" and explain how political bosses were able to gain and maintain political control in large immigrant urban areas.

6.1.06

Analyze the causes and effects of the continuing westward expansion of the American people after the Civil War and assess the significance of the Turner Thesis.

6.1.07

Describe the effects of federal policy on the experience of Native Americans.

6.1.08

Explain key developments that led to the industrialization of agriculture.

6.1.09

Describe the key elements of the populist movement. Describe the candidates, issues and significance of the presidential election of 1896.

6.1.10

Analyze intellectual, cultural, and social trends in late nineteenth century America.

6.1.11

Explain how Americans dealt with the issue of race in the late nineteenth century and government policies concerning race.

6.2.01

Analyze the causes and course of America's growing role in world affairs.

6.2.02

Explain the role played by key individuals, events, and movements associated with the Progressive Era.

6.2.03

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and analyze their significance.

6.2.04

Describe the candidates, issues and significance of the presidential election of 1912.

6.2.05

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson and analyze their significance.

6.2.06

Explain the factors behind America's evolving stance toward World War I.

6.2.07

Identify and describe the principal nations and alliances involved in World War I when America joined the war in 1917. Explain the activities of the American Expeditionary Force and America's contributions to winning the war.

6.2.08

Explain the important domestic developments and events that took place during the war. Discuss the domestic response after the war.

6.2.09

Analyze the diplomatic consequences of World War I and the controversy over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Explain the shifts in American foreign policy as a result of World War I.

7.1.01

Describe the major political, economic, cultural, and social trends and events after World War I.

7.1.02

Describe the causes and consequences of the global depression of the 1930s and its effects on American society. Analyze Herbert Hoover's policies in response to the Great Depression.

7.1.03

Analyze Franklin Delano Roosevelt's policies during the first and second New Deals.

7.1.04

Explain the emergence of the New Deal coalition and the significance of the political realignment that resulted. Describe the opposition to the New Deal.

7.2.01

Describe the progression of events in Europe and Asia leading up to World War II. Explain the responses of the federal government and public opinion to these events.

7.2.02

Analyze the roles and contributions of major World War II figures and describe the significance of important battles and events.

7.2.03

Analyze the effects of America's involvement in World War II on the home front.

7.2.04

Discuss the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

7.2.05

Describe the American response to the Holocaust and involvement in the prosecution of war criminals.

7.2.06

Describe the American contribution to reconstruction in Asia and Europe in the aftermath of the war.

8.1.01

Analyze the differences between the Soviet and American ideology. Describe the events and factors that contributed to the beginning of the Cold War and the policy of containment that emerged as a result.

8.1.02

Describe the major events of the Cold War.

8.1.03

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidencies of Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower and analyze their significance.

8.1.04

Analyze the causes, events, and outcomes of the Korean War.

8.1.05

Analyze the causes and consequences of important domestic, intellectual, and cultural trends after World War II.

8.1.06

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and analyze their significance.

8.1.07

Describe the key leaders, groups, events, and issues of the African American Civil Rights movement and analyze their significance.

8.1.08

Analyze the role of containment in leading the United States to commit troops to Southeast Asia. Analyze the causes, events, and outcomes of the Vietnam War. Discuss the domestic responses to the war.

8.1.09

Describe the major people for and against the women's rights movement, and the key events and developments during the 1960s and 1970s with regards to women's issues.

8.1.10

Describe the key leaders, groups, events, and issues of political, environmental, and social justice movements during the 1960s and 1970s.

8.1.11

Describe the candidates, issues and significance of the presidential election of 1968.

8.1.12

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Richard Nixon and analyze their significance.

8.1.13

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidencies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and analyze their significance.

8.2.01

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and analyze their significance.

8.2.02

Describe the American role in bringing an end to the Cold War and subsequent changes in American foreign relations.

8.2.03

Describe the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidency of Bill Clinton and analyze their significance.

8.2.04

Describe the candidates, issues and significance of the presidential election of 2000.

8.2.05

Describe major cultural, technological, scientific, economic, and social developments of the late twentieth century.

8.2.06

Analyze the consequences of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the course of American domestic and foreign policy.