The historical focus continues in the eighth grade with the study of European exploration and the early years of the United States. This study incorporates all four social studies strands into a chronologic view of the development of the United States. Students examine how historic events are shaped by geographic, social, cultural, economic and political factors.

Textbook with student online access:

Title: United States History, Beginnings to 1877

Publisher: Holt McDougal

Units of Study:

1. History:  Students will explore the narrative history of the development of the United States from Pre-Columbian to the Reconstruction of the Civil War
2. Geography: Students will study how physical characteristics of the environment that influenced population distribution, settlement patterns, and economic activities in the United States.
3. Economics: Students will analyze the economic structures that shaped the United States, including, colonialism, mercantilism, and industrialization.
4. Government: Students will study the events and ideas that shaped the continuing development of the United States Constitution.
5. Citizenship and Responsibility: Through an ongoing exploration of the relationship between participating in civic and political life and the attainment of individual and public goals, students will study the obligations and rights of the citizen in a free market society.

Course Description:

Course Overview

Unit 1: Economic Decision Making & Skills
Economic decision making relies on the analysis of data. Economists use data to explain trends and decide among economic alternatives. Individuals use data to determine the condition of their finances and to make savings and investment decisions. We’ll also begin to explore some fundamental techniques and tools necessary to personal financial planning.

Unit 2: Fundamentals of Economics
Productive resources are limited and allocated in a variety of different ways. An efficient way to allocate productive resources is through markets. We’ll also be investigating a variety of markets in real time.

Unit 3: Government & the Economy
The health of a nation’s economy is influenced by governmental policy. Fiscal policy can be used to spur economic growth. Monetary policy can be used to moderate fluctuations in the business cycle. We’ll also look at interest rates, and inflation.

Unit 4: Global Economy
Global issues and events influence economic activities. We’ll look at modern day going-ons and how they affect our lives and day-to-day financials.

Unit 5: Working & Earning
Employment provides a means of creating personal income. We’ll also learn how to craft a Resume and draft a proper business email.

Unit 6: Financial Responsibility & Money Management
Responsible personal finance decisions are based upon reliable information and used to reach personal goals. We’ll also investigate upcoming decisions in your lives that will dictate the direction of your financial goals.

Unit 7: Saving & Investing
Saving and investing strategies help individuals achieve personal financial goals. We’ll also investigate a number of financial products and services available to consumers.

Unit 8: Credit & Debt
Credit and debt can be used to achieve personal financial goals. We’ll explore how to navigate these channels and what to steer clear from.

Unit 9: Risk Management
There are various strategies to help protect personal assets and wealth. Whilst there will be no field trips to casinos, we will explore basic strategy around investment.

This course is required for graduation and is aligned closely with the State Standards for the American Government end-of-course exam. We examine how the American people govern themselves at national, state, and local levels of government. Students can understand and begin to influence issues addressed by federal, state, and, local governments through personal service, and research projects.

Textbook:

Title: American Government 10th edition author: Wilson & DilulioPublisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Units of Study:

Unit 1 – Civic InvolvementUnit 2 – Civic Participation and SkillsUnit 3 – Basic Principles of the U.S. ConstitutionUnit 4 – Structure and Functions of the Federal GovernmentUnit 5 – Role of the PeopleUnit 6 – Ohio’s State and Local GovernmentsUnit 7 – Public PolicyUnit 8 – Government and the Economy

Breakdown of Units:

Unit 1 – Civic Involvement

Students can engage in societal problems and participate in opportunities to contribute to the common good through governmental and non-governmental channels.

Content Statements:

1. Opportunities for civic engagement with the structures of government are made possible through political and public policy processes.
2. Political parties, interest groups, and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means.

Unit 2 – Civic Participation and Skills

Democratic government is enhanced when individuals exercise the skills to effectively participate in civic affairs.

Content Statements:

1. Issues can be analyzed through the critical use of information from public records, surveys, research data, and policy positions of advocacy groups.
2. The processes of persuasion, compromise, consensus-building, and negotiation contribute to the resolution of conflicts and differences.

Unit 3 – Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Principles related to representative democracy are reflected in the articles and amendments of the U.S. Constitution and provide structure for the government of the United States.

Content Statements:

1. As the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution incorporates basic principles which help define the government of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers and relationship with the governed.
2. The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States.
3. The constitutional government in the United States has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and informal practices.
4. The Bill of Rights was drafted in response to the national debate over the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
5. The Reconstruction Era prompted Amendments 13 through 15 to address the aftermath of slavery and the Civil War.
6. Amendments 16 through 19 responded to calls for reform during the Progressive Era.
7. Four amendments have provided for extensions of suffrage to disenfranchised groups.
8. Five amendments have altered provisions for the presidential election, terms, and succession to address changing historical circumstances.
9. Amendments 11, 21, and 27 have addressed unique historical circumstances.

Unit 4 – Structure and Functions of the Federal Government

Three branches compose the basic structure of the federal government. Public policy is created through the making of laws, the execution of the laws, and the adjudication of disputes under the laws.

Content Statements:

1. Law and public policy are created and implemented by three branches of government; each functions with its own set of powers and responsibilities.
2. The political process creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government in addressing current issues.

Unit 5 – Role of the People

The government of the United States protects the freedoms of its people and provides opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process.

Content Statements:

1. In the United States, people have rights that protect them from undue governmental interference. Rights carry responsibilities that help define how people use their rights and which require respect for the rights of others.
2. Historically, the United States has struggled with majority rule and the extension of minority rights. As a result of this struggle, the government has increasingly extended civil rights to marginalized groups and broadened opportunities for participation.

Unit 6 – Ohio’s State and Local Governments

The State of Ohio acts within the framework of the U.S. Constitution and extends powers and functions to local governments.

Content Statements:

18. The Ohio Constitution was drafted in 1851 to address difficulties in governing the state of Ohio.
19. As a framework for the state, the Ohio Constitution complements the federal structure of government in the United States.
20. Individuals in Ohio have a responsibility to assist state and local governments as they address relevant and often controversial problems that directly affect their communities.

Unit 7 – Public Policy

Federal, state, and local governments address problems and issues by making decisions, creating laws, enforcing regulations, and taking action.

Content Statements:

1. A variety of entities within the three branches of government, at all levels, address public policy issues that arise in domestic and international affairs.
2. Individuals and organizations play a role within federal, state, and local governments in helping to determine public (domestic and foreign) policy.

Unit 8 – Government and the Economy

The actions of the government play a major role in the flow of economic activity. Governments consume and produce goods and services. Fiscal and monetary policies, as well as economic regulations, provide the means for government intervention in the economy.

Content Statements:

1. The federal government uses spending and tax policy to maintain economic stability and foster economic growth. Regulatory actions carry economic costs and benefits.
2. The Federal Reserve System uses monetary tools to regulate the nation’s money supply and moderate the effects of expansion and contraction in the economy.

Course Description:

This course is a senior elective and is aligned closely with the State standards for Contemporary World Issues. The dynamics of global interactions among nations and regions present issues that affect all humanity. These dynamics include competing beliefs and goals; methods of engagement; and conflict and cooperation. Contemporary issues have political, economic, social, historic, and geographic components. Approaches to addressing global and regional issues reflect historical influences and multiple perspectives. Students can understand and begin to influence global issues through personal service and research projects, as well as through participation in the Yeshiva University Model United Nations.

Textbook:

Various articles and periodicals

Units of Study:

Unit 1 – Global Connections
Unit 2 – Civic Participation and Skills
Unit 3 – Civil and Human Rights
Unit 4 – Social Institutions

Breakdown of Units:

Unit 1 – Global Connections

The 21st century is characterized by changing circumstances as new economies emerge and new technologies change the way people interact. Issues related to health, economics, security, and the environment are universal.

Content Statements:

1. Trade, alliances, treaties, and international organizations contribute to the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples in the 21st century.
2. Advances in communications technology have profound effects on the ability of governments, interest groups, individuals, and the media to share information across national and cultural borders.

Unit 2 – Civic Participation and Skills

Individuals and groups have the capacity to engage with others to impact global issues.

Content Statements:

1. Individuals can evaluate media messages that are constructed using particular tools, characteristics, and conventions for unique purposes. Different communication methods affect how people define and act on issues.
2. Individuals can assess how effective communicators address diverse audiences.
3. Individuals can identify, assess and evaluate world events, engage in deliberative civil debate, and influence public processes to address global issues.
4. Effective civic participation involves identifying problems or dilemmas, proposing appropriate solutions, formulating action plans, and assessing the positive and negative results of actions taken.
5. Individuals can participate through non-governmental organizations to help address humanitarian needs.

Unit 3 – Civil and Human Rights

There are challenges to civil rights and human rights throughout the world. Politics, economics, and culture can all influence perceptions of civil and human rights.

Content Statements:

1. Beliefs about civil and human rights vary among social and governmental systems.
2. Nations and international organizations pursue their own interests on issues related to civil and human rights, resulting in both conflict and cooperation particularly as it relates to injustices against minority groups.
3. Modern instances of genocide and ethnic cleansing present individual, organizational and national issues related to the responsibilities of participants and non-participants.

Unit 4 – Social Institutions

Civilizations adopt and adapt social institutions to address challenges and meet the goals of decision-makers in society.

Content Statements:

1. Non-Governmental organizations often play a leading role in addressing issues of special interest.
2. Governments and NGO’s identify priorities differently and have different, often opposing interests.