Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks
U.S. History I Learning Standards
USI.3 Explain the influence and ideas of the Declaration of Independence and the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson.
USI.4 Analyze how Americans resisted British policies before 1775 and analyze the reasons
for the American victory and the British defeat during the Revolutionary war.
USI.6 Explain the reasons for the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, including why its drafters created a weak central government; analyze the shortcomings of the national government under the Articles; and describe the crucial events (e.g., Shays’s Rebellion) leading to the Constitutional Convention.
USI.7 Explain the roles of various founders at the Constitutional Convention. Describe the major debates that occurred at the Convention and the “Great Compromise” that was reached.
USI.8 Describe the debate over the ratification of the Constitution between Federalists on federalism, factions, checks and balances, and the importance of an independent
USI.11 Describe the purpose and functions of government.
USI.13 Explain why the United States government is classified as a democratic government.
USI.14 Explain the characteristics of American democracy, popular sovereignty and constitutional government, which includes representative institutions, federalism, separation of powers, shared powers, checks and balances, and individual rights.
USI.15 Explain the varying roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments in the United States.
USI.16 Describe the evolution of the role of the federal government, including the concepts of public services, taxation, economic policy, foreign policy, and common defense.
USI.19 Explain the rights and the responsibilities of citizenship and describe how a democracy provides opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process through elections, political parties, and interest groups.
USI.22 Summarize the major policies and political developments that took place during the presidencies of George Washington (1789–1797), John Adams (1797–1801), and Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809).
USI.25 Trace the influence and ideas of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall and Marbury v. Madison and the importance of the doctrine of judicial review as manifested in (1803).
USI. 38 Analyze Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), his views on slavery, and the political obstacles he encountered.
USI. 40 Provide examples of the various effects of the Civil War.
- the increased role of the federal government
National Council for Social Studies
Standard 1: The causes of the American Revolution, the ideas and interests involved in forging the revolutionary movement, and the reasons for the American victory
Standard 2: The impact of the American Revolution on politics, economy, and society
Standard 3: The institutions and practices of government created during the Revolution and how they were revised between 1787 and 1815 to create the foundation of the American political system based on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
- Reconstruct the chronology of the critical events leading to the outbreak of armed conflict between the American colonies and England.
- Analyze political, ideological, religious, and economic origins of the Revolution.
- Reconstruct the arguments among patriots and loyalists about independence and draw conclusions about how the decision to declare independence was reached.
- Explain the major ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence and their intellectual origins.
- Draw upon the principles in the Declaration of Independence to construct a sound historical argument regarding whether it justified American independence.
- Explain how key principles in the Declaration of Independence grew in importance to become unifying ideas of American democracy.
Standard 2: The impact of the American Revolution on politics, economy, and society
- Analyze the arguments over the Articles of Confederation.
- Assess the accomplishments and failures of the Continental Congress.
- Compare the revolutionary goals of different groups—for example, rural farmers and urban craftsmen, northern merchants and southern planters—and how the Revolution altered social, political, and economic relations among them.
Standard 3: The institutions and practices of government created during the Revolution and how they were revised between 1787 and 1815 to create the foundation of the American political system based on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
- Analyze the alternative plans considered by the delegates and the major compromises agreed upon to secure approval of the Constitution.
- Analyze the fundamental ideas behind the distribution of powers and the system of checks and balances established by the Constitution.
- Analyze the features of the Constitution which have made this the most enduring and widely imitated written constitution in world history.
- Compare the arguments of Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the ratification debates and assess their relevance in late 20th-century politics.
- Analyze whether the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 threatened First Amendment rights and the issues the Alien and Sedition Acts posed in the absence of judicial review of acts of Congress.
- Appraise how John Marshall's precedent-setting decisions interpreted the Constitution and established the Supreme Court as an independent and equal branch of the government.
- Trace the evolution of the Supreme Court's powers during the 1790s and early 19th century and analyze its influence today.