Students will connect their past learnings of Colonial and Revolutionary War America to studies of United States geography, the Constitution and the beginning of the new Republic, and the social, economic, and political growth of the new nation.  Students will learn about the conflicting forces which led to events such as the War of 1812, the growth of political parties and sectionalism, the Westward Movement (“Manifest Destiny”), the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Industrial Revolution, and the Progressive Era.  They will learn about the diverse groups that immigrated to America, and how they influenced America’s development.  By studying the ethical, social, political, and economic questions which Americans have dealt with historically, they will be more aware of, and sensitive to, the social issues facing Americans today.

California Content Standards for History-Social Science in Grade 8