Author: emily.popek

The newly independent states faced political and economic struggles under the Articles of Confederation. These challenges resulted in a Constitutional Convention, a debate over ratification, and the eventual adoption of the Bill of Rights. In this unit, students will study how colonies struggling to address their differing social, political, and economic interests and to establish unity led to the writing of the Articles of Confederation and eventually the Constitution, which established a democratic republic with a strong central government. Students will investigate the people’s division on issues such as states rights, role/limits of federal power, and guarantees of individual freedoms.

Students will study the aggression of the Axis powers that threatened United States security and led to its entry into World War II. Students will explore the nature and consequences of warfare during World War II and how it transformed the United States and the global community. In addition, students will investigate the damage from total warfare and atrocities such as the Holocaust and how they led to a call for international efforts to protect human rights and prevent future wars.

In this unit, students will investigate that people have many economic wants and needs, but limited resources with which to obtain them. Students will define scarcity and the effect it has on families and their choices based on their wants and needs. Students will also investigate how tools, technology, and other resources can be used to meet needs and wants. In addition, students will learn the difference between goods and services and consumers and producers and will learn about earning money for wants and needs.

Many people have immigrated and migrated to New York State contributing to its cultural growth and development. In this unit students will learn about how and why immigrants came to and through New York and their experiences in their new lives after their arrival. Students will be given the opportunity to investigate how people were processed through Ellis Island, living conditions in the cities, factory conditions, and other conditions of the 1800s.

As complex societies and civilizations change over time, their political and economic structures evolve. A golden age may be indicated when there is an extended period of time that is peaceful, prosperous, and demonstrates great cultural achievements. In this unit, students will study how geographic factors influence the development of classical civilizations and their political structures. Students will investigate why political structures were developed and established and the character traits indicative of a Golden Age.

The United States Constitution serves as the foundation of the United States government and outlines the rights of citizens.The Constitution is considered a living document that can respond to political and social changes. The New York State Constitution also has been changed over time. In this unit, students will study how the Constitution outlined a federalist system of government and also established three branches of government as well as a system of checks and balances. Students will also explore how the New York State Constitution changed over time and the foreign and domestic disputes tested the strength of the Constitution.