Model Curriculum
8th Grade Unit: New Nation
Content Statement #7. The outcome of the American Revolution was national independence and new political, social and economic relationships for the American people.
CONTENT ELABORATION.
The American Revolution achieved national independence for the United States of America, a new country organized under the Articles of Confederation.
The newly independent thirteen colonies now faced the challenge of organizing a new government. The former colonies moved from support of a mother country under a mercantilist system to separate economies facing various economic issues.
Thirteen colonies, owing allegiance to Great Britain, transitioned into sovereign states loosely united as a confederation. States had to create new governing documents and address issues facing the new nation.
One of the successes of the Articles of Confederation was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787. This ordinance established a precedent for protecting rights and set the stage for national growth and expansion.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Analyze the new relationships for the American people that resulted from the American Revolution.
The newly independent thirteen colonies now faced the challenge of organizing a new government. The former colonies moved from support of a mother country under a mercantilist system to separate economies facing various economic issues.
Thirteen colonies, owing allegiance to Great Britain, transitioned into sovereign states loosely united as a confederation. States had to create new governing documents and address issues facing the new nation.
One of the successes of the Articles of Confederation was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787. This ordinance established a precedent for protecting rights and set the stage for national growth and expansion.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Analyze the new relationships for the American people that resulted from the American Revolution.
Content Statement 8. Problems arising under the Articles of Confederation led to debate over the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
CONTENT ELABORATION
CONTENT ELABORATION
Domestic problems under the Articles of Confederation led to the creation of a new constitution. Problems under the Articles included:
• no chief executive;
• no federal courts;
• maintaining national security;
• creating a stable economic system;
• paying war debts;
• collecting revenue;
• regulating trade; and
• amending the Articles of Confederation.
Challenges in drafting the U.S. Constitution were debated during the Constitutional Convention and by Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the ratification
process. These issues were resolved through compromises involving:
• powers of the central government versus the states;
• adoption of the Bill of Rights;
• congressional representation;
• the extent of democratic participation; and
• the continued institution of slavery.
• no chief executive;
• no federal courts;
• maintaining national security;
• creating a stable economic system;
• paying war debts;
• collecting revenue;
• regulating trade; and
• amending the Articles of Confederation.
Challenges in drafting the U.S. Constitution were debated during the Constitutional Convention and by Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the ratification
process. These issues were resolved through compromises involving:
• powers of the central government versus the states;
• adoption of the Bill of Rights;
• congressional representation;
• the extent of democratic participation; and
• the continued institution of slavery.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Analyze how the problems arising under the Articles of Confederation led to debate over the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
Analyze how the problems arising under the Articles of Confederation led to debate over the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
7th Grade Unit: Feudal Europe
Content Statement #3. The Roman Empire collapsed due to various internal and external factors (political, social and economic) which led to the development of feudalism and the manorial system in the region. The fall of Rome and later invasions also allowed for the creation of new empires in the region.
CONTENT ELABORATION.
Rome weakened for many reasons, including but not limited to, the split between Western and Eastern Roman Empires, government corruption, civil war, lack of conquest, weakening military, shifting power from West to East, moral decline, and inflation. The decline of the Roman Empire in the West was hastened by Germanic invasions.
The lack of central government in the West led to the development of feudal and manorial systems. Feudalism was the system by which medieval Europeans organized their power and governments. Vassals received land and protection from a lord when they worked and fought for him. It might be understood as a pyramid with the monarch presiding over a hierarchy of less important vassals.
The manorial system was related to feudalism. It was an economic relationship between the peasants and lord. The peasants worked on land owned by the lord in return for fixed dues in kind, money and services. The manorial system prevailed in many European countries. While the Western Empire fell, the Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire and lasted until the mid-15th Century.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Describe how internal and external factors helped to break up the Roman Empire and set the stage for the development of feudal and manorial systems.