Launching the Ship of State
8th
Grade
Students may be required to complete one or more of the following assessments:
Essay test, Constitution packet, PowerPoint presentation, multiple-choice test, historical fiction literature review
All students must pass with a “C” or better (70%) in their performance grade, or they will be placed in a second history class (CLM) to master the standards for the grading period.
A- Advanced Grade: Student demonstrates a clear understanding of the need for a strong national government, in which checks and balances exist to prevent the government’s power from threatening citizen’s rights. The student makes few mistakes, and applies social studies skills (mapping, timeline, research, interpretation, etc.) with confidence. The student should be able to discuss the topics listed below.
B- Proficient Grade: Much understanding, some mistakes
C- Basic Grade: Enough understanding to pass, despite mistakes
D- Below Basic Grade: Only sometimes shows understanding, many mistakes
F- Far Below Basic Grade: Rarely shows understanding, many mistakes
Topics to be covered in above assessments:
(1) The formation of
the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from
(2) The natural rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which are stated in the Declaration of Independence.
(3) The major events
and battles of the War for
(4) The Articles
of Confederation – the
(5) The convening of The Constitutional Convention to create a plan for government. Discuss the importance of Washington and Franklin and understand the two major compromises (The Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise)
(6) The creation of a government of three branches (legislative, executive and judicial) and three levels (national, state and local). The establishment of checks and balances in all three processes of government.
(7) Limits on the
powers of the national government (defense; treaties; coining; regulation
of commerce) and the reservation of powers to the state and local governments
(crimes within the states; education; healthcare).
Important terms/concepts to review with your child:
|
First Continental Congress |
Second Continental Congress |
Redcoats |
|
Minutemen |
Thomas Paine |
Common Sense
|
|
Patriot |
Loyalist |
Ben Franklin |
|
Thomas Jefferson |
|
|
|
|
Treaty of |
Articles of Confederation
|
|
Northwest Ordinances of 1787 |
Land Ordinance of 1785 |
Natural rights |
|
Shay’s Rebellion |
Tariffs |
Great Compromise |
|
Three-Fifths Compromise |
Virginia Plan |
|
|
Legislative branch |
Executive branch |
Judicial Branch |
|
Checks and balances |
Separation of power |
Ratification |
|
|
|
|
Having trouble remembering what these topics are? Visit these websites:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html
The Terrible
Transformation
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/tguide/1index.html
Thomas Jefferson:
Man of the Millennium
http://www.history.org/Media/flash/Jefferson/main.htm
User's Guide to
the Declaration of
http://www.founding.com
World of Benjamin
Franklin: Glimpses of the Man
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/rotten.html
Declaring
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/declara1.html
A New System of
Government
http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog05/index.html
Declaration of
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/decl.html
Declaration of
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/const/declar.html
Declaration of
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/content.php?page=document&doc=2
Declaration of
http://www.crf-usa.org/bria/bria16_4.htm#natural
John Locke
http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/lock.htm
Magna Carta and Its American Legacy
http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/featured_documents/magna_carta/legacy.html