Eighth Grade U.S. History
Grade Standards, Supporting Skills, and Examples
K-12.H.1 Students will analyze how major events are chronologically connected and evaluate their impact on one another.
8.H.1.1 Describe major military battles in the American Revolution
8.H.1.2 Identify causes and effects of the War of 1812, Texas Revolution, and the Mexican American War
8.H.1.3 Understand the changing character of American political life after 1800
8.H.1.4 Explain how and why the land west of the Mississippi was acquired and settled
8.H.1.5 Describe major military battles and campaigns of the Civil War
8.H.1.6 Describe the changing federal policy toward Native Americans after the Civil War
K-12.H.2 Students will analyze and evaluate the impact of people, events, ideas and symbols upon history using multiple sources.
8.H.2.1 Construct a historical argument that acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of Patriot and Loyalist sides 8.H.2.2 Analyze how westward expansion was motivated by economic gain and Manifest Destiny
8.H.2.3 Analyze the major sources of conflict that led to the Civil War
8.H.2.4 Associate key individuals with their roles in the Civil War
8.H.2.5 Investigate ways the Civil War changed the United States government
K-12.H.3 Students will analyze and evaluate historical events from multiple perspectives.
8.H.3.1 Compare the political and social differences between 13 separate colonies and one independent nation 8.H.3.2 Evaluate competing ideas about the purposes government should serve
8.H.3.3 Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist philosophies of Americans during the ratification process
8.H.3.4 Investigate how the abolition of slavery affected the life of African-Americans in United States’ society
K-12.H.4 Students will identify and evaluate the causes and effects of past, current and potential events, issues and problems.
8.H.4.1 Analyze the sources of conflict which led to the American Revolution
8.H.4.2 Explain how the Declaration of Independence influenced the colonies
8.H.4.3 Identify economic support for the Patriots during the American Revolution
8.H.4.4 Critique the United States government under the Articles of Confederation
8.H.4.5 Summarize the basic structure of government adopted through compromises at the Constitutional Convention
8.H.4.6 Connect the fundamental liberties and rights stated in the first 15 amendments of the Constitution to current events
8.H.4.7 Describe ways in which migration led to conflicts between Anglo-European and Native American culture 8.H.4.8 Draw conclusions on how the reform movements of the mid-nineteenth century affected the U.S.
8.H.4.9 Assess the impact of significant inventors, technology and industrialization on mid-1800s America
8.H.4.10 Explain how the war affected soldiers, civilians, women, the physical environment, and future warfare 8.H.4.11 Draw conclusions about the political, economic and social effects of Reconstruction in the United States
K-12.H.5 Students will develop historical research skills.
8.H.5.1 Generate a compelling question and supporting questions that address the impact of conflicting points of views in U.S. government
8.H.5.2 Generate questions to analyze why individuals or groups, and their developments, are seen as historically significant
8.H.5.3 Critique significant political primary sources and their impact on events of this time period
K-12.C.1 Students will explain, compare and contrast, and analyze the historical principles and philosophical purposes and various forms of governments.
8.C.1.1 Explain how European ideals of government influenced the development of the U.S. government
8.C.1.2 Explain how government decisions impact people, places, and history
8.C.1.3 Explain the ways in which governments meet the needs of citizens, manage conflict, and establish order and security
K-12.C.2 Students will explain the historical impact of primary founding documents including but not limited to, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments.
Refer to 8.H.2.2 and 8.H.2.3, as these grade-level standards include government content related to this anchor standard.
K-12.C.3 Students will explain how the Constitution organizes the government of the United States.
8.C.3.1 Identify the three branches of government including the separation of powers and checks and balances in the Constitution
8.C.3.2 Describe the rationale behind the United States’ ability to amend the Constitution
8.C.3.3 Explain why and how the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments were added to the Constitution
K-12.C.4 - Students will understand the fundamental principles of America’s democratic republic and the United States Constitution and the inherent conflicts that may arise.
8.C.4.1 Describe the election process and the Electoral College
8.C.4.2 Apply the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens to students’ lives
8.C.4.3 Compare and contrast methods of civic involvement
K-12.C.5 - Students will understand the ways in which a citizen can use their basic rights to influence the decisions of the republic.
8.C.5.1 Analyze ways that citizens can affect or influence the U.S. society and government
8.C.5.2 Explain the roles and influences of individuals, groups, and the media on governments
K-12.C.6 - Students will describe the elements of how U.S. foreign policy is made and understand the challenges and influences of the United States government
8.C.6.1 Identify the impact of foreign policy decisions throughout U.S. history
K-12.E.3 Students will analyze the ways government can impact the market.
8.E.3.1 Describe the impact of technology and industrialization on mid-1800s America
K-12.E.4 Students will explain how different economic systems coordinate and facilitate the exchange, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
8.E.4.1 Describe the economic effects of Reconstruction in the United States
8.E.4.2 Identify economic support for America during conflicts
8.E.4.3 Describe how economic gain was the motivation for westward expansion
8.H.1.1 Describe major military battles in the American Revolution
8.H.1.2 Identify causes and effects of the War of 1812, Texas Revolution, and the Mexican American War
8.H.1.3 Understand the changing character of American political life after 1800
8.H.1.4 Explain how and why the land west of the Mississippi was acquired and settled
8.H.1.5 Describe major military battles and campaigns of the Civil War
8.H.1.6 Describe the changing federal policy toward Native Americans after the Civil War
K-12.H.2 Students will analyze and evaluate the impact of people, events, ideas and symbols upon history using multiple sources.
8.H.2.1 Construct a historical argument that acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of Patriot and Loyalist sides 8.H.2.2 Analyze how westward expansion was motivated by economic gain and Manifest Destiny
8.H.2.3 Analyze the major sources of conflict that led to the Civil War
8.H.2.4 Associate key individuals with their roles in the Civil War
8.H.2.5 Investigate ways the Civil War changed the United States government
K-12.H.3 Students will analyze and evaluate historical events from multiple perspectives.
8.H.3.1 Compare the political and social differences between 13 separate colonies and one independent nation 8.H.3.2 Evaluate competing ideas about the purposes government should serve
8.H.3.3 Compare and contrast the Federalist and Anti-Federalist philosophies of Americans during the ratification process
8.H.3.4 Investigate how the abolition of slavery affected the life of African-Americans in United States’ society
K-12.H.4 Students will identify and evaluate the causes and effects of past, current and potential events, issues and problems.
8.H.4.1 Analyze the sources of conflict which led to the American Revolution
8.H.4.2 Explain how the Declaration of Independence influenced the colonies
8.H.4.3 Identify economic support for the Patriots during the American Revolution
8.H.4.4 Critique the United States government under the Articles of Confederation
8.H.4.5 Summarize the basic structure of government adopted through compromises at the Constitutional Convention
8.H.4.6 Connect the fundamental liberties and rights stated in the first 15 amendments of the Constitution to current events
8.H.4.7 Describe ways in which migration led to conflicts between Anglo-European and Native American culture 8.H.4.8 Draw conclusions on how the reform movements of the mid-nineteenth century affected the U.S.
8.H.4.9 Assess the impact of significant inventors, technology and industrialization on mid-1800s America
8.H.4.10 Explain how the war affected soldiers, civilians, women, the physical environment, and future warfare 8.H.4.11 Draw conclusions about the political, economic and social effects of Reconstruction in the United States
K-12.H.5 Students will develop historical research skills.
8.H.5.1 Generate a compelling question and supporting questions that address the impact of conflicting points of views in U.S. government
8.H.5.2 Generate questions to analyze why individuals or groups, and their developments, are seen as historically significant
8.H.5.3 Critique significant political primary sources and their impact on events of this time period
K-12.C.1 Students will explain, compare and contrast, and analyze the historical principles and philosophical purposes and various forms of governments.
8.C.1.1 Explain how European ideals of government influenced the development of the U.S. government
8.C.1.2 Explain how government decisions impact people, places, and history
8.C.1.3 Explain the ways in which governments meet the needs of citizens, manage conflict, and establish order and security
K-12.C.2 Students will explain the historical impact of primary founding documents including but not limited to, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments.
Refer to 8.H.2.2 and 8.H.2.3, as these grade-level standards include government content related to this anchor standard.
K-12.C.3 Students will explain how the Constitution organizes the government of the United States.
8.C.3.1 Identify the three branches of government including the separation of powers and checks and balances in the Constitution
8.C.3.2 Describe the rationale behind the United States’ ability to amend the Constitution
8.C.3.3 Explain why and how the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments were added to the Constitution
K-12.C.4 - Students will understand the fundamental principles of America’s democratic republic and the United States Constitution and the inherent conflicts that may arise.
8.C.4.1 Describe the election process and the Electoral College
8.C.4.2 Apply the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens to students’ lives
8.C.4.3 Compare and contrast methods of civic involvement
K-12.C.5 - Students will understand the ways in which a citizen can use their basic rights to influence the decisions of the republic.
8.C.5.1 Analyze ways that citizens can affect or influence the U.S. society and government
8.C.5.2 Explain the roles and influences of individuals, groups, and the media on governments
K-12.C.6 - Students will describe the elements of how U.S. foreign policy is made and understand the challenges and influences of the United States government
8.C.6.1 Identify the impact of foreign policy decisions throughout U.S. history
K-12.E.3 Students will analyze the ways government can impact the market.
8.E.3.1 Describe the impact of technology and industrialization on mid-1800s America
K-12.E.4 Students will explain how different economic systems coordinate and facilitate the exchange, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
8.E.4.1 Describe the economic effects of Reconstruction in the United States
8.E.4.2 Identify economic support for America during conflicts
8.E.4.3 Describe how economic gain was the motivation for westward expansion