7th Grade U.S. History Curriculum
Below is a list of the standards covered in 7th grade social studies, including some detail about each one.
1.) Describe the life of pre-Columbian American people.
2.) Identify the causes and consequences of European exploration.
3.) Describe interactions among Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans.
4.) Compare the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies
5.) Explain regional differences in colonial life in the 13 Colonies
6.) Analyze the development of slave trade and its impact on Africans
7.) Identify the reasons for the American Revolution
8.) Explain the Revolutionary War and its consequences
9.) Explain the development of the U.S. government
1.) Describe the life of pre-Columbian American people.
- Students will look at how the first Native Americans came to North America and how different tribes adapted to their surroundings in various parts of the continent.
2.) Identify the causes and consequences of European exploration.
- Students will look at many European explorers (Columbus, Cortes, De Soto, Hudson, Cartier, etc.) and the reasons behind their travels. Students will also examine the positive and negative fallout of the "Age of Exploration."
3.) Describe interactions among Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans.
- This standard is closely tied to the previous one. With the exploration of the Western Hemisphere, students will look at how the three groups interacted with each other. Topics will include the Columbian Exchange and the consequences of that exchange, including the deaths of millions of natives, the emergence of the slave trade, and competition between European nations over land and resources. Finally, we will look at the first attempts at permanent settlement in North America - Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth.
4.) Compare the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies
- Students will map the original 13 Colonies, especially as part of one of the three major regions - New England, Middle, or Southern.
5.) Explain regional differences in colonial life in the 13 Colonies
- Each of the three regions of colonies (New England, Middle, Southern) was unique as a result of each owns geographic and economic differences. We will compare what each region's economy, climate, land features, and society was based upon.
6.) Analyze the development of slave trade and its impact on Africans
- Students will look at how slave trade developed heavily in the Southern Colonies and how it effected Africans for decades.
7.) Identify the reasons for the American Revolution
- Students will look at the major political, economic, military, and social events that led up to Revolution. Events include: French and Indian War, various British taxes, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord.
8.) Explain the Revolutionary War and its consequences
- Students will take a very in-depth look at the people, places, and events that formed the American Revolution. The stories of lesser-known individuals and the small, yet significant, events will be pieced together and analyzed to create an incredible journey they forged a new nation.
9.) Explain the development of the U.S. government
- Students will focus on the early decisions the Founding Fathers had to make after the Revolution. Moving from an ineffective government under the Articles of Confederation to a hotly contested Constitution, the leaders of the new nation were faced with critical choices that shaped what our nation is today.