Fall Creek Middle School
8th Grade U.S. History
Mr. Johnson: mikejohnson@fallcreek.k12.wi.us
715-877-1068
Welcome to our United States History class. We will focus our lessons on not what just happened in our countries past, but we will connect it to today’s world! In 8th grade we begin with Native Americans and finish our lessons during the Reconstruction Period just after the Civil War.
HISTORY: Learning about what was can help YOU turn what is into what WILL BE!
Fall Creek Middle School Grading Scale
A 100-92% C 77- 72%
A- 91-90% C- 71-70 %
B+ 89- 88% D+ 69- 68%
B 87- 82% D 67- 62%
B- 81- 80% D- 61-60%
C+ 79- 78% F 59 -0%
Unit 1: Our Colonial Heritage, Beginnings -1783
· The World Before the Opening of the Atlantic
- Native American cultures
- West African cultures
- Columbus and Columbian exchange
· New Empires in the Americas
- Early European explorers
- Beginnings of Slavery in the Americas
· The English Colonies
- Life and Conflicts in the Colonies
- “Discovery” Simulation
· The American Revolution
- Declaration of Independence
- American Revolutionary War
Unit 2: Creating a New Nation, 1777-1800
· Forming a Government
- Articles of Confederation and creating the U.S. Constitution
· Citizenship and the Constitution
- Bill of Rights and rights and responsibilities of citizenship
· Launching the Nation, 1789-1800
- George Washington and the challenges for the new nation
Unit 3: The Republic, 1800-1855
· The Jefferson Era, 1800-1815
- Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark Expedition, War of 1812
* A New National Identity, 1812-1830
- Nationalism and Sectionalism, the Erie Canal, American Culture
· The Age of Jackson, 1828-1840
- Jacksonian Democracy and the Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears
· Expanding West, 1800-1855
- Oregon Trail, Battle of the Alamo, Mexican-American War, California Gold Rush
Unit 4: The Nation Expands, 1790-1860
· The North
- Industrial Revolution, Changes in Working Life, Technological Advances
· The South
- Growth of the cotton Industry, Slave System, Southern society
· New Movements in America, 1815-1850
- Immigrants and Urban challenges, movement to end slavery, women’s rights
· A Divided nation, 1848-1860
- Debate over Slavery and Political divisions
Unit 5: The Nation Breaks Apart, 1861-1867
· The Civil War, 1861-1865
- Early battles of the Civil War, daily life of soldiers and citizens, Battle of Gettysburg
· Reconstruction, 1865- 1877
- Rebuilding the South, and the end of Reconstruction
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