Grade 7

Historical Inquiry and Analysis

Geography

Economics

Colonial American History and Government

Use research and inquiry skills to analyze American History using primary and secondary sources.

Understand how to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technology to report information.

Understand physical and cultural characteristics of places.

Understand the relationships between the Earth's ecosystems and the populations that dwell within them.

Understand the fundamental concepts relevant to the development of a market economy.

Examine the causes, course, and consequences of British settlement in the American colonies.

Demonstrate an understanding of the origins and purposes of government, law, and the American political system.

Demonstrate an understanding of the causes, course, and consequences of the American Revolution and the founding principles of our nation.

Demonstrate an understanding of the origins and purposes of government, law, and the American political system.

Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens, and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

Recognize the impacts of the decisions of the first presidents and the policies of their administrations on the continuing formation of the United States.  

Demonstrate an understanding of the domestic and international causes, course, and consequences of westward expansion.

Examine the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War on American people.

Provide supporting details for an answer from text, interview for oral history, check validity of information from research/text, and identify strong vs. weak arguments.

Analyze charts, graphs, maps, photographs and timelines; analyze political cartoons; determine cause and effect.

Analyze current events relevant to American History topics through a variety of electronic and print media resources.

Differentiate fact from opinion, utilize appropriate historical research and fiction/nonfiction support materials.

Identify, within both primary and secondary sources, the author, audience, format, and purpose of significant historical documents.

Compare interpretations of key events and issues throughout American History.

View historic events through the eyes of those who were there as shown in their art, writings, music, and artifacts.

Locate the fifty states and their capital cities in addition to the nation's capital on a map.

Locate on a world map the territories and protectorates of the United States of America.

Interpret maps to identify geopolitical divisions and boundaries of places in North America.

Explain how major physical characteristics, natural resources, climate, and absolute and relative location have influenced settlement, economies, and inter-governmental relations in North America.

Use maps to describe the location, abundance, and variety of natural resources in North America.

Explain how the principles of a market and mixed economy contributed to the develop the United States into a democratic nation.

Compare the characteristics of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

Differentiate economic systems of New England, Middle and Southern colonies including indentured servants and enslaved people as labor sources.

Identify the impact of key colonial figures on the economic, political, and social development of the colonies.

Discuss the impact of colonial settlement on Native American populations.

Examine the causes, course, and consequences of the French and Indian War.

Describe the contributions of key groups (Africans, Native Americans, women, and children) to the society and culture of colonial America.

Recognize how Enlightenment ideas including Montesquieu's view of separation of power and John Locke's theories related to natural law and how Locke's social contract influenced the Founding Fathers.

Trace the impact that the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" had on colonists' views of government.

Explain the consequences of the French and Indian War in British policies for the American colonies from 1763 - 1774.

Explain American colonial reaction to British policy from 1763 - 1774.

Recognize the contributions of the Founding Fathers (John Adams, Sam Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, George Washington) during American Revolutionary efforts.

Examine the contributions of influential groups to both the American and British war efforts during the American Revolutionary War and their effects on the outcome of the war.

Describe the influence of individuals on social and political developments during the Revolutionary era.

Examine the causes, course, and consequences of the American Revolution.

Examine the structure, content, and consequences of the Declaration of Independence.

Examine individuals and groups that affected political and social motivations during the American Revolution.

Describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of the government) and complaints set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

Evaluate the structure, strengths, and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and its aspects that led to the Constitutional Convention.

Identify how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution.

Examine the course and consequences of the Constitutional Convention (New Jersey Plan, Virginia Plan, Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, compromises regarding taxation and slave trade, Electoral College, state vs. federal power, empowering a president).

Analyze support and opposition (Federalists, Federalist Papers, AntiFederalists, Bill of Rights) to ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances.

Evaluate the intentions of the Preamble of the Constitution as it relates to the goals of the new governement.

Explain the viewpoints of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the Constitution and inclusion of a bill of rights.

Define how the rule of law influences the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.

Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution.

Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches (Marbury v. Madison).

Evaluate rights contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution (comparison - Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as a guide to common good).

Distinguish how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.

Examine the influences of George Washington's presidency in the formation of the new nation.

Explain major domestic and international economic, military, political, and socio-cultural events of John Adams's presidency.

Examine the Constitutional amendment process as it relates to the 11th and 12th amendments.

Explain major domestic and international economic, military, political, and socio-cultural events of Thomas Jefferson's presidency including the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory.

Examine this time period (1763-1815) from the perspective of historically under-represented groups (children, indentured servants, Native Americans, enslaved people, women, working class).

Examine the causes, course, and consequences of United States westward expansion and its growing diplomatic assertiveness (War of 1812, Convention of 1818, Adams-Onis Treaty, Missouri Compromise, Monroe Doctrine, Trail of Tears, Texas annexation, Manifest Destiny, Oregon Territory, Mexican American War/Mexican Cession, California Gold Rush, Compromise of 1850, Kansas Nebraska Act, Gadsden Purchase).

Describe the debate surrounding the spread of slavery into western territories and Florida.

Identify key ideas and influences of Jacksonian democracy.

Discuss the impact of westward expansion on cultural practices and migration patterns of Native American and enslaved African populations.

Identify technological improvements (inventions/inventors) that contributed to industrial growth in the areas of transportation, textiles, agriculture.

Explain the causes and consequences of industrial growth during this time period; i.e. textile industry, subsequent effect on children and women, environment impacts, impacts on enslaved people.

Examine the aspects of slave culture including plantation life, resistance efforts, and the role of the slaves' spiritual system, including how enslaved people developed a unique understanding of Christianity that was rooted in their experience.

Explain the consequences of landmark Supreme Court decisions (McCulloch v. Maryland [1819], Gibbons v. Odgen [1824], Cherokee Nation v. Georgia [1831], and Worcester v. Georgia [1832]) significant to this era of American history.

Explain the causes and consequences of the Civil War, including sectionalism, slavery, the abolitionist movement, religiously motivated concerns, states' rights, and the balance of power in the Senate.

Explain major domestic and international economic, military, political, and socio-cultural events of Abraham Lincoln's presidency.

Identify the relationship and division of powers between the federal government and state governments.

Identify the division (Confederate and Union States, Border states, western territories) of the United States at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Compare Union and Confederate strengths and weaknesses.

Compare significant Civil War battles and events and their effects on civilian populations.

Examine the significance of Lee's surrender.

Describe how God's Natural Law helps us listen to our own sacred story to follow Jesus Christ.                    

Understand how God's Natual Law is perfected in the Sermon on the Mount and leads us to what we must do and what we must avoid.

State the importance of Christians taking an active part in public life building the Kingdom of God and promoting the common good.

Understand one's responsibility and ways to serve other people, especially those in most need.

Understand one's responsibility and ways to serve other people, especially those in most need.

Find New Testament examples of persons responding to God's call to serve God and others.