Students will analyze the major people, events, and ideas that led to the exploration and settlement of the Americas by Europeans.
Example Indicators:
- Explain the motivations, obstacles, and accomplishments of sponsors and leaders of key expeditions from Spain, France, Portugal, and England.
- Identify the economic, ideological, religious, and nationalist forces that led to competition among European powers for control of the Americas.
- Identify the political, economic, and social impact of the encounter between European and early cultures in the Americas.
Social Studies 8.1.8
Students will describe key, social, economic and cultural developments from WWI through the Great Depression.
Example Indicators:
Describe the economic factors that led to the Great Depression.
Describe the extent and depth of business and farm failures, unemployment, and poverty.
Describe the New Deal and the Depression and the future role of government in the economy.
Social Studies 8.3.1
Students will explain and compare the structures, functions, and powers of the three branches of government at the national, state, and local levels.
Example Indicators:
- Explain the election and appointment of officials.
- Describe the division and sharing of powers among and within levels of government.
- Chart the separation and sharing of powers within levels of government.
- Outline the powers granted to Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, and those reserved to the states.
Social Studies 8.3.3
Students will compare the policy-making process at the local, state, and national levels of government.
Example Indicators:
Explain the functions of departments, agencies, and regulatory bodies.
Explain the ways that individuals and cultural, ethnic, and other interest groups can influence government policy
makers.
Social Studies 8.3.5
Students will explain the structure and operation of the United States economy and the role of citizens as producers and consumers.
Example Indicators:
- Define the concepts of scarcity, choice, trade-offs, specialization, entrepreneurship, productivity, inflation, profits, markets, supply and demand, and unemployment and incentives.
- Analyze the effect of producer and consumer behavior on markets.
- Describe the role of individuals and businesses as consumers, savers, investors, and borrowers.
- Explain how various institutions help individuals and groups accomplish economic goals.
- Describe common forms of credit, savings, investments, purchases, and contractual agreements, e.g., warranties, and guarantees.
- Analyze skills necessary for career opportunities, e.g., individual abilities, skills, and education, and the changing supply and demand for those skills in the economy.
- Describe the development of money, savings, and credit.
Social Studies 8.3.6
Students will compare the United States economic system to systems in other countries.
Example Indicators:
- Describe the government's role in the United States economy, e.g., provision of public goods and services, protection of consumer rights, and the promotion of competition.
- Describe the impact of government policies, on individuals and businesses, taxation, and government borrowing
- Explain how the government addresses third-party costs and benefits, e.g., pollution and medical research.
- Explain the differences between traditional command and market economics.
- Analyze the costs and benefits of instituting different degrees of market, command, and traditional characteristics in to mixed economic systems.
