Exploration and Colonization

• Identify how the Native American civilizations subsisted in North America prior to European colonization.
• Describe the contributions of Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans to the creation of the North American colonies.
• Compare and contrast the goals, governments, social structures, and religions of the North American colonies.

From British Colonies to the United States

• Describe how life in the British North American colonies contributed to the creation of a unique American identity.
• Summarize the causes of the growing tension between the American colonies and the British Empire.
• Analyze the philosophical ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence.
• Explain why the Americans were able to defeat the British Empire.

Creation of the U.S. Constitution

• Compare and contrast the governing philosophies of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
• Identify the major arguments in favor and against ratification of the Constitution.

The Expanding Nation

• Trace the development of the first and second political parties.
• Identify significant events that marked the growth of American democracy.
• Evaluate how capitalism, agriculture, and industrialization contributed to economic development, regional specialization, and social reforms.
• Assess the impact of Manifest Destiny on American foreign policy.

Sectional Tension and War

• Analyze how sectional conflict after 1830, coupled with western expansion after 1840, contributed to sectional tensions over slavery.
• Explain how the events of the 1850s influenced the sectional crisis.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and the Confederacy, and how they contributed to the Civil War’s outcome.