Syllabus

8th Grade: US History & Geography
Syllabus
Mr. Robert L. Meyer, M.A.; Email: rmeyer@sandi.net; Telephone (6) 470-0555 ext.126

Course Description:

8th grade United States history focuses on the political, cultural, and social, development of the United States. The course begins with a brief review of early exploration and settlement, beginning with the prehistoric migration of Asiatic tribes, and concluding with the arrival of European settlers. The English colonies are investigated through their interactions with Native Americans, Their English rulers, and other economic trading partners. Conflicts with Britain and Enlightenment ideas lead to the American Revolution, and the course examines both the broader implications of the war on the United States and the
pivotal events and people involved. Independence leads to an examination of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Western expansion, beginning with the Lewis & Clark expedition, is examined with a clear portrayal of the positive economic results it had on the country and the negative impact it had on Native American people and the environment. The course continues with the causes and results of the Civil War,
Immigration, industrialization, progressive reform, and foreign policy.

Learning Objectives:

Students understand the major events preceding the founding of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy.

Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the
enumerated and implied powers of the federal government.

Students understand the foundation of the American political system and the ways in which citizens participate in it.

Students analyze the aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation.
Students analyze U.S. foreign policy in the early Republic.

Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced, with emphasis on the Northeast.

Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the South from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced.

Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the West from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced.

Students analyze the early and steady attempts to abolish slavery and to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.

Students analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction.

Students analyze the transformation of the American economy and the changing
social and political conditions in the United States in response to the Industrial
Revolution.
.

Materials:
United States History, Independence to 1914, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2006


Homework Policy:
All homework is due at the start of class. Late work receives a lower mark.
If you are absent, check the Internet to find out the homework. Go to http://www.scpaushistorygeo8.blogspot.com/ The homework assignment will be due the day you return to school. If you do not find out the homework from the Internet, ask/phone other students from the class.
If there is a quiz given on the day that you miss, you will not be allowed to take that quiz when you return. However, the quiz will not count for you or against you. Important: If there is a quiz being given the day you return to class, you must be prepared to take that quiz.
It is strongly suggested that you obtain phone numbers from a number of your classmates. This can help student success in a number of ways.
After being absent, it is your responsibility to bring any due homework up to me! It is not my responsibility to ask you for it. It is due at the very start of class.
Any homework that is not passed in on time due to an unexcused absence or tardy will receive a lower mark.
Grading:
Grades for this class will be determined by a point system. Points from class activities, homework, projects, quizzes, notebook checks will add up over the course of the semester. History Binder checks, projects, and tests will make up the majority of your grade. Grades are locked at the end of each grading period and cannot be changed once that grading period has ended.
Failed tests may be retaken after school. Students must make arrangements with the instructor on a case by case basis to do so. Any assignments, including tests that don’t have the student’s name, date and period, written in the upper right corner will not be given a grade. It is the student’s responsibility to write his or her name, date and period on every one of their assignments and tests.



Classroom Rules:
Students should expect all rules and policies in place at SCPA to be followed in class. There are five (5) basic classroom rules you are expected to follow in Rm. 116. They are:
When Mr. Meyer, or someone else, is talking, YOU ARE LISTENING!
Be in your seat, quiet & ready to learn when the bell rings.
Stay in your seat & on task.
Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Follow directions!!!

Cheating:
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you (and anyone/everyone else involved) are caught cheating on an assignment you (and all others involved) will receive a failing grade for that assignment.


Outline for United States History:

UNIT 1 – Connecting with the Past: Our Colonial Heritage
Lesson 1: Early Exploration and Settlement
A) Textbook Orientation
B) Connecting with the Past
C) The Earliest Americans
D) The Age of Exploration
Lesson 2: Early Exploration and Settlement
A) Spanish America
B) The Race for Empires
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 3: The English Colonies
A) The Southern Colonies
B) The New England Colonies
C) The Middle Colonies
Lesson 4: The English Colonies
A) Life in the English Colonies
B) Conflict in the Colonies
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 5: The American Revolution
A) The Revolution Begins
B) Declaring Independence
C) The Declaration of Independence
Lesson 6: The American Revolution
A) Patriots Gain Hope
B) Independence!
C) Milestone Assignment
UNIT 2 – A New Nation
Lesson 7: Forming a Government
A) The Articles of Confederation
B) The Nation faces Challenges
Lesson 8: Forming a Government
A) Creating the Constitution
B) Ratifying the Constitution
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 9: Citizenship and the Constitution
A) Understanding the Constitution
B) Reading the Constitution
Lesson 10: Citizenship and the Constitution
A) The Bill of Rights
B) Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 11: Launching the Nation
A) Washington Leads a New Nation
B) Hamilton and National Finances
Lesson 12: Launching the Nation
A) Challenges for the New Nation
B) John Adams' Presidency
C) Chapter Review
D) Milestone Assignment
UNIT 3 – The New Republic
Lesson 13: The Jefferson Era
A) Jefferson becomes President
B) The Louisiana Purchase
Lesson 14: The Jefferson Era
A) The Coming of War
B) The War of 1812
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 15: A New National Identity
A) American Foreign Policy
B) Nationalism and Sectionalism
C) American Culture
D) Chapter Review
Lesson 16: The Age of Jackson
A) Jacksonian Democracy
B) Jackson's Administration
C) Indian Removal
D) Chapter Review
Lesson 17: Expanding West
A) Trails of the West
B) The Texas Revolution
Lesson 18: Expanding West
A) The Mexican-American War
B) The California Gold Rush
C) Chapter Review
D) Milestone Assignment
UNIT 4 – The Nation Expands
Lesson 19: The North
A) The Industrial Revolution in America
B) Changes in Working Life
Lesson 20: The North
A) The Transportation Revolution
B) More Technological Advances
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 21: The South
A) Growth of the Cotton Industry
B) Free Southern Society
C) The Slave System
D) Chapter Review
Lesson 22: New Movements in America
A) Immigrants and Urban Challenges
B) American Arts
C) Reforming Society
Lesson 23: New Movements in America
A) The Movement to End Slavery
B) Women's Rights
C) Chapter Review
Lesson 24: A Divided Nation
A) The Debate over Slavery
B) Trouble in Kansas
C) Political Divisions
D) The Nation Divides
E) Milestone Assignment
UNIT 5 – The Nation Breaks Apart
Lesson 25: The Civil War
A) War Begins
B) The War in the East
Lesson 26: The Civil War
A) The War in the West
B) Daily Life During the War
Lesson 27: The Civil War
A) The Tide of War Turns
B) Chapter Review
Lesson 28: Reconstruction
A) Rebuilding the South
B) The Fight over Reconstruction
Lesson 29: Reconstruction
A) Reconstruction in the South
B) Chapter Review
Lesson 30: Reconstruction
A) Milestone Assignment
UNIT 6 – A Growing America
Lesson 31: America Moves West
A) Miners, Ranchers and Railroads
B) Wars for the West
C) Farming and Populism
D) Chapter Review
Lesson 32: An Industrial Nation
A) The Second Industrial Revolution
B) Big Business
C) Industrial Workers
D) A New Wave of Immigration
E) City Life
F) Chapter Review
Lesson 33: The Spirit of Reform
A) The Gilded Age
B) The Progressive Movement
Lesson 34: The Spirit of Reform
A) Reforming the Workplace
B) The Rights of Women and Minorities
C) The Progressive President
Lesson 35: America Becomes a World Power
A) The United States Gains Overseas Territories
B) The Spanish-American War
C) The United States and Latin America
D) The United States and Mexico
Lesson 36: America Becomes a World Power
Milestone Assignment – Research Report

Citizenship:

What happens if I don’t follow the rules? The consequences for not following the classroom rules are:
1st Offense: Verbal Warning and conference with the Instructor.
2nd Offense: Counselor contact, Parent/Guardian contact, detention with Instructor.
3rd Offense: Counselor contact #2, Parent/Guardian contact #2, detention #2 with Instructor.
4th Offense: Referral to Office, Counselor contact #3, Parent/Guardian contact #3, after school detention, Saturday School, etc…

Citizenship grades are based upon how well you are able to follow the class rules. Good or bad, it’s up to you to earn the best grades you can! Tardies lower your Citizenship grade, too. Get four (4) and you earn a U, so don’t be late to class. Anyone tardy must also make up the class time they missed. Remember, if you are not in your seat, ready to learn, when the bell rings YOU ARE LATE!

Food/Gum:

Eating food and chewing gum is not allowed in class. If you eat or chew gum in class your Citizenship grade will be affected and you may also receive detention and/or a referral.

Detention:

Detentions are done after school Monday through Thursday unless another time is arranged with the Instructor. Detentions that have been assigned but have not been completed before the end of the grading period will lower the Citizenship grade.






California State Standards:

8.1 Students understand the major events preceding the founding of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy.

8.2 Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied powers of the federal government.

8.3 Students understand the foundation of the American political system and the ways in which citizens participate in it.

8.4 Students analyze the aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation.

8.5 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy in the early republic.

8.6 Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced, with emphasis on the Northeast.

8.7 Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the South from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced.

8.8 Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the West from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced.

8.9 Students analyze the early and steady attempts to abolish slavery and to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.

8.11 Students analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction.

8.12 Students analyze the transformation of the American economy and the changing social and political conditions in the United States in response to the Industrial Revolution.