8th Grade (Arizona Edition)
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Program Contents Unit 1: Foundations of American Government 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
The Roots of American Democracy What ideas gave birth to the world's first modern democratic nation? The Declaration of Independence What principles of government are expressed in the Declaration of Independence? Creating the Constitution What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention? The Constitution: A More Perfect Union How has the Constitution created “a more perfect Union”? The Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties How are your rights defined and protected under the Constitution? Federalism: National, State, and Local Powers How does power flow through our federal system of government? An Enduring Plan of Government Does the Constitution support the ideals in the Declaration of Independence?
Unit 2: Political Participation and Behavior 8. Citizenship Participation in a Democracy How can you make a difference in a democracy? 9. Parties, Interest Groups, and Public Policy Political parties and interest groups: How do they influence our political decisions? 10. Public Opinion and the Media To what extent do the media influence your political views? 11. Political Campaigns and Elections Elections and voting: Why should they matter to you?
Unit 3: The Economic Fundamentals 12. An Economic Way of Thinking How can you think like an economist? 13. Economic Decision Making Why can’t you always get what you want? 14. Economic Systems Who or what decides what you get? 15. Gains from Trade How does trade make people better off?
Program Contents Unit 3: The Economic Fundamentals 16. Government and The Economy How should the U.S. government carry out its economic roles?
Unit 4: Economic Inquiry: Improving a Country’s Economy 17. Demand and Supply What are demand and supply, and what factors influence them? 18. Money, Banking, Saving, and Investing How should you spend, save, and invest your money? 19. The United States and the Global Economy How do countries conduct trade in the global economy?
Unit 5: Economic Resources 20. Linking Past to Present What changes since 1914 have shaped how we live today? 21. An Era of Reform To what extent did the reform movements of the mid-1800s improve life for Americans? 22. The Progressive Era Did the progressives improve life in the United States? 23. Through Ellis Island and Angel Island: The Immigrant Experience What was it like to be an immigrant to the United States around the turn of the century? 24. Fighting World War II What military strategies did the United States and its allies pursue to defeat the Axis powers in World War II?
Unit 6: The Search for a Better Life 25. Peace, Prosperity, and Progress Why are the 1950s remembered as an age of affluence? 26. Two Americas Why did poverty persist in the United States in an age of affluence? 27. The Great Society What is the proper role of government in shaping American society? 28. Segregation in the Post-World War II Period How did segregation affect American life in the postwar period?
Program Contents Unit 6: The Search for a Better Life 29. The Civil Rights Revolution: “Like a Mighty Stream” How did civil rights activists advance the ideals of liberty, equality, and opportunity for African Americans? 30. Redefining Equality: From Black Power to Affirmative Action How did civil rights activists change their strategies and goals in the 1960s and 1970s, and how successful were they in achieving racial equality? 31. The Widening Struggle Why and how did the civil rights movement expand? 32. U.S. Domestic Politics at the Turn of the 21st Century How have recent presidents tried to fulfill their domestic policy goals? 33. U.S. Foreign Policy in a Global Age How well have U.S. foreign policy decisions met the challenges of the global age? 34. Consumption Patterns in the United States: The Impact of Living Well How do American consumption patterns affect people and the planet? 35. Land Use Conflict in the Amazon Rainforest How should the resources of rainforests be used and preserved? 36. Invisible Borders: Transboundary Pollution in Europe How can one country’s pollution become another country’s problem? 37. Antarctica: Researching Climate change at the Coldest Place on Earth How might global warming affect the environment in the world’s coldest places? 38. Defining and Debating America’s Founding Ideals What are America’s founding ideals, and why are they important? 39. Moving Forward: Debating America’s Founding Ideals How does our nation define and debate progress as we work to preserve American ideals?