Divergent Paths

8th Grade U.S. History – 5th Grading Period

 

 

Performance Assessments

 

Students may be required to complete one or more of the following assessments:

Essay test, Research Paper, Excel Graphing, Editorial letter, PowerPoint presentation, multiple-choice test, historical fiction literature review

 

Grading Procedure

 

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 national crisis over slavery that led to Civil War, the events and significance of the war, and how the nation struggled to reunite after the war, as well as the progress and failures involved with recognizing the rights and citizenship of African-Americans.  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 Conflicts and Compromises over Slavery Extension preceding the Civil War – especially the Missouri Compromise, the conflict in Kansas, and the Dred Scott decision.

2)  The Confederate Secession; especially the issues of states’ rights and  nullification and the nature Southern slave society.

3)      The events and leaders of The Civil War:  strategies, advantages and disadvantages of both sides; the presidency of Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address; key battles, especially Bull Run, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Richmond. Sherman’s March to the Sea should be understood as total war against civilians and the economy, a model for future industrial wars.  The victory of the north should be understood as one of an industrial society of the future over an agricultural society of the past.

 

Important terms/concepts to review with your child:

 

 

 

Missouri Compromise

Compromise of 1850

Dred Scott Decision

Kansas Nebraska Act

John Brown

Election of 1860

Fugitive Slave Act

Secession

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Popular Sovereignty

Frederick Douglass

Lincoln/Douglas Debates

Confederate States of America

Border States

Abraham Lincoln

Generals Lee and Grant

Emancipation Proclamation

Gettysburg

Vicksburg

54th Regiment

Fort Sumter

Appomattox Courthouse

Strategies of the Civil War

Gettysburg Address

Comparing the North and South

States’ Rights

Underground Railroad

 

Having trouble remembering what these topics are?  Visit these websites:

 

African American Odyssey
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aointro.html

 

Pictures of the Civil War
http://www.archives.gov/research_room/research_topics/civil_war/civil_war_photos.html

 

Sectional Conflict During the 1850s
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/seminar/unit4/unit4.html

 

American Civil War Homepage
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/

 

Camp Life: Civil War Collections from Gettysburg
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/gettex/index.htm

 

Civil War Artillery
http://www.cwartillery.org/artillery.html

 

Civil War at the Smithsonian
http://civilwar.si.edu/collections.html

 

John Brown Story and Trial
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/trialsindex.htm#John%20Brown%20Trial

 

The Underground Railroad
http://education.ucdavis.edu/NEW/STC/lesson/socstud/railroad/contents.htm

 

Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture
http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/sitemap.html

Dred Scott Case Papers
http://www.library.wustl.edu/vlib/dredscott/

 

Compromise of 1850, The
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=27