Grade 5
Government
Grades 3-5, Benchmark A Identify the responsibilities of the branches of the U.S. government and explain why they are necessary.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G03-05.BA.L05.I01    Role of Government
01. Explain major responsibilities of each of the three branches of the U.S. government:

• The legislative branch, headed by Congress, passes laws.
• The executive branch, headed by the president, carries out and enforces the laws made by Congress.
• The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, interprets and applies the law.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G03-05.BA.L05.I02    Role of Government
02. Explain the essential characteristics of American democracy including:

• The people are the source of the government’s authority.
• All citizens have the right and responsibility to vote and influence the decisions of the government.
• The government is run directly by the people or through elected representatives.
• The powers of government are limited by law.
• Basic rights of individuals are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Grades 3-5, Benchmark B Give examples of documents that specify the structure of state and national governments in the United States and explain how these documents foster self-government in a democracy.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G03-05.BB.L05.I03    Rules and Laws
03. Explain the significance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Citizen Rights and Responsibilities
Grades 3-5, Benchmark A Explain how citizens take part in civic life in order to promote the common good.

Y2003.CSS.S06.G03-05.BB.L05.I03    Rights and Responsibilities
03. Explain the significance of the rights that are protected by the First Amendment including:

• Freedom of religion;
• Freedom of speech;
• Freedom of the press;
• Right of petition and assembly.

Grade 8
History
Grades 6-8 Benchmark E Explain the causes and consequences of the American Revolution, with emphasis on both Colonial and British perspectives.

Y2003.CSS.S01.G06-08.BE.L08.I03    Revolution
03. Identify and explain the sources of conflict which led to the American Revolution, with emphasis on the perspectives of the Patriots, Loyalists, neutral colonists and the British concerning:

• The Proclamation of 1763, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, the Tea Act and the Intolerable Acts;
• The Boston Tea Party, the boycotts, the Sons of Liberty and petitions and appeals to Parliament.

Grades 6-8, Benchmark F Explain the political and economic challenges faced by the United States after the Revolutionary War and the actions that resulted in the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.

Y2003.CSS.S01.G06-08.BF.L08.I05    A New Nation
05. Explain major domestic problems faced by the leaders of the new republic under the Articles of Confederation including

• Maintaining national security;
• Creating a stable economic system;
• Dealing with war debts;
• Collecting revenue;
• Defining the authority of the central government

Y2003.CSS.S01.G06-08.BF.L08.I06    A New Nation
06. Explain the challenges in writing and ratifying the U.S. Constitution including:

• Issues debated during the convention resulting in compromises (i.e., the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise and the compromise over the slave trade);
• The Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate;
• The debate over a Bill of Rights.

 

Government
Grades 6-8, Benchmark B Explain how the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, and the Northwest Ordinance have provided for the protection of rights and the long-term future of a growing democracy.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G06-08.BB.L08.I03    Rules and Laws
03. Explain how events and issues demonstrated the need for a stronger form of governance in the early years of the United States:

• Shays’ Rebellion;
• Economic instability;
• Government under the Articles of Confederation.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G06-08.BB.L08.I04    Rules and Laws
04. Explain the political concepts expressed in the U.S. Constitution:

• Representative democracy;
• Federalism;
• Bicameralism;
• Separation of powers;
• Checks and balances.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G06-08.BB.L08.I05    Rules and Laws
05. Explain how the U.S. Constitution protects the rights of citizens, regulates the use of territory, manages conflict and establishes order and security.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G06-08.BB.L08.I06    Rules and Laws
06. Explain how specific provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, limit the powers of government in order to protect the rights of individuals with emphasis on:

• Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition;
• Right to trial by jury and the right to counsel;
• Due process and equal protection of the laws.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G06-08.BB.L08.I07    Rules and Laws
07. Explain how the Northwest Ordinance established principles and procedures for the orderly expansion of the United States.

Y2003.CSS.S05.G06-08.BB.L08.I08    Rules and Laws
08. Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.

People in Societies
Grades 6-8, Benchmark C Explain how contact between different cultures impacts the diffusion of belief systems, art, science, technology, language and forms of government.

Y2003.CSS.S02.G06-08.BC.L08.I06    Diffusion
06. Explain how the diverse peoples of the United States developed a common national identity.

Social Studies Skills and Methods
Grades 6-8, Benchmark A Analyze different perspectives on a topic obtained from a variety of sources.

Y2003.CSS.S07.G06-08.BA.L08.I01    Obtaining Information
01. Compare accuracy and point of view of fiction and nonfiction sources about a particular era or event.

Grades 6-8, Benchmark C Present a position and support it with evidence and citation of sources.

Y2003.CSS.S07.G06-08.BC.L08.I02    Communicating Information
02. Construct a historical narrative using primary and secondary sources.

Y2003.CSS.S07.G06-08.BC.L08.I03    Communicating Information
03. Write a position paper or give an oral presentation that includes citation of sources.

Grades 6-8, Benchmark D Work effectively in a group.

Y2003.CSS.S07.G06-08.BD.L08.I04   Problem Solving
04. Organize and lead a discussion.

Economics
Grades 6-8, Benchmark C Identify connections between government policies and the economy.

Y2003.CSS.S04.G06-08.BC.L08.I04    Government and the Economy
04. Explain how lack of power to regulate the economy contributed to the demise of the Articles of Confederation and the creation of U.S. Constitution.

Y2003.CSS.S04.G06-08.BC.L08.I05    Government and the Economy
05. Explain how governmental protection of property rights and regulation of economic activity impacted the development of the U.S. economy.