Massachusetts

8.T1 The philosophical foundations of the United States political system

• 8.T1.1 Explain why the Founders of the United States considered the government of ancient Athens to be the beginning of democracy and explain how the democratic political concepts developed in ancient Greece influenced modern democracy (e.g., civic participation, voting rights, trial by jury, legislative bodies, constitution writing, rule of law).

  • The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)

• 8.T1.2 Describe the government of the Roman Republic and the aspects of republican principles that are evident in modern democratic governments (e.g., separation of powers, rule of law, representative government, and the notion of civic duty/common good).

  • The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)

• 8.T1.3 Explain the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on the American Revolution and framework of the American government (e.g., John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu).

  • The Enlightenment: origins and natural rights (8-H.5)
  • The Enlightenment: influences on government (8-H.6)
  • The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)

• 8.T1.4 Explain how British ideas about and practices of government (e.g., the Magna Carta, the concept of habeas corpus, the Mayflower Compact, self-government, town meetings, the importance of education and literacy, the House of Burgesses, colonial legislatures, the Albany Plan of Union) influenced American colonists and the political institutions that developed in colonial America.

  • The Enlightenment: origins and natural rights (8-H.5)
  • The Enlightenment: influences on government (8-H.6)
  • New England Colonies: founding and government (8-K.5)

• 8.T1.5 Analyze the evidence for arguments that the principles of government of the United States were influence by the governments of Native Peoples (e.g., the Iroquois Confederacy).

8.T2 The development of the United States government

• 8.T2.1 Apply knowledge of the history of the American Revolutionary period to determine the experiences and events that led the colonists to declare independence; explain the key ideas about equality, representative government, limited government, rule of law, natural rights, common good, and the purpose of government in the Declaration of Independence.

  • Causes of the American Revolution: the French and Indian War (8-L.1)
  • Causes of the American Revolution: politics and society (8-L.2)
  • Causes of the American Revolution: introduction to mercantilism and the Navigation Acts (8-L.3)
  • Causes of the American Revolution: new taxes and colonial response (8-L.4)
  • The Revolutionary War: preparing for war (8-L.5)
  • The Revolutionary War: struggle for independence (8-L.6)
  • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (8-L.10)

• 8.T2.2 Analyze the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation; and describe the crucial events (e.g., Shays' Rebellion) leading to the Constitutional Convention.

  • The Articles of Confederation (8-M.1)

• 8.T2.3 Identify the various leaders of the Constitutional Convention and analyze the major issues (e.g., distribution of political power, rights of individuals, representation and rights of states, slavery) they debated and how the issues were resolved.

  • The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)

• 8.T2.4 Compare and contrast key ideas debated between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists over ratification of the Constitution (e.g., federalism, factions, checks and balances, independent judiciary, republicanism, limited government).

  • The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)

• 8.T2.5 Summarize the Preamble and each article in the Constitution, and the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights; explain the reasons for the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution in 1791.

  • The Constitution: structure and principles (8-B.1)
  • The Bill of Rights (8-B.4)

8.T3 The institutions of United States government

• 8.T3.1 Distinguish the three branches of government (separation of powers):

  • 8.T3.1.a Congress as the legislative branch

    • The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)

  • 8.T3.1.b the Presidency and the executive agencies as the executive branch and

    • The Executive Branch (8-A.3)

  • 8.T3.1.c the Supreme Court and other federal inferior courts as the judicial branch

    • The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)
    • Laws and courts (8-C.1)

• 8.T3.2 Examine the interrelationship of the three branches (the checks and balance system).

  • 8.T3.2.a Congress: enumerated powers, general powers, limits on power, checks on other two branches; roles of political parties in the organization of Congress; roles within the legislative branch, such as the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, minority party leaders; the system for accomplishing legislation, including committees, hearings and legislative procedures

    • The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
    • Checks and balances (8-A.5)

  • 8.T3.2.b the Presidency: roles, powers and limits, checks on other two branches, role of the Cabinet, such as the Vice President, Attorney General and Secretaries of State, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security; executive departments and agencies (such as the Department of Education, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the Food and Drug Administration), and branches of the military

    • The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
    • Checks and balances (8-A.5)

  • 8.T3.2.c the Supreme Court: role and powers, checks on other two branches, lower courts

    • The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)
    • Checks and balances (8-A.5)

• 8.T3.3 Describe the respective roles of each of the branches of government.

  • The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
  • The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
  • The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)

• 8.T3.4 Explain the process of elections in the legislative and executive branches and the process of nomination/confirmation of individuals in the judicial and executive branches.

  • 8.T3.4.a Elections: running for legislative office (U.S. Representative – unlimited two-year terms, U.S. Senator – unlimited six-year terms), or executive office (President – two four-year terms and Vice President – unlimited four-year terms) and the function of the Electoral College in Presidential elections

    • The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
    • The Executive Branch (8-A.3)

  • 8.T3.4.b Nomination by the President and confirmation by Congress: Supreme Court Justices and Secretaries/agency heads in the executive branch)

    • The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)
    • Checks and balances (8-A.5)

• 8.T3.5 Describe the role of political parties in elections at the state and national levels.

8.T4 Rights and responsibilities of citizens

• 8.T4.1 Explain the different ways one becomes a citizen of the United States.

• 8.T4.2 Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens (e.g., voting, serving as a juror, paying taxes, serving in the military, running for and holding elected office) as compared to non-citizens.

  • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)

• 8.T4.3 Distinguish among civic, political, and private life.

• 8.T4.4 Define and provide examples of fundamental principles and values of American political and civic life (e.g., liberty, the common good, justice, equality, tolerance, law and order, due process, rights of individuals, diversity, civic unity, patriotism, constitutionalism, popular sovereignty, and representative democracy).

  • The Constitution: structure and principles (8-B.1)

• 8.T4.5 Describe how a democracy provides opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process through elections, political parties, and interest groups.

• 8.T4.6 Evaluate information related to elections (e.g., policy positions and debates among candidates, campaign financing, campaign advertising, influence of news media and social media, and data relating to voter turnout in elections).

• 8.T4.7 Apply knowledge of the meaning of leadership and the qualities of good leaders to evaluate political leaders at the community, the state and national levels.

  • The Revolutionary War: preparing for war (8-L.5)
  • The Revolutionary War: struggle for independence (8-L.6)
  • The Revolutionary War: turning the tide of war (8-L.7)
  • The Revolutionary War: conclusion and aftermath (8-L.8)
  • The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)
  • Washington's presidency: part I (8-M.3)
  • Washington's presidency: part II (8-M.4)
  • The Louisiana Purchase (8-M.7)
  • Jacksonian Democracy (8-N.1)
  • Tariff, nullification, and bank war (8-N.2)
  • Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears (8-N.3)
  • Texas independence and annexation (8-O.7)
  • Causes of the Civil War: Missouri Compromise to Bleeding Kansas (8-O.9)
  • Causes of the Civil War: Dred Scott to secession (8-O.10)
  • The Civil War: the beginning of the war (8-P.1)
  • The Civil War: Bull Run to the Emancipation Proclamation (8-P.2)
  • The Civil War: Gettysburg to the election of 1864 (8-P.3)
  • The Civil War: the conclusion of the war (8-P.4)
  • Radical Reconstruction (8-Q.1)
  • The end of Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow (8-Q.2)

• 8.T4.8 Explain the importance of individuals working cooperatively with their elected leaders.

• 8.T4.9 Explain the importance of public service, and identify career and other opportunities in public service at the local, state, and national levels.

• 8.T4.10 Analyze issues involving liberty in conflict with equality or authority, individual rights in conflict with the common good, or majority rule in conflict with minority rights.

• 8.T4.11 Examine the varied understandings of the role of elected representatives and discuss those who have demonstrated political courage or those whose actions have failed to live up to the ideals of the Constitution.

• 8.T4.12 Examine the role of political protest in a democracy.

• 8.T4.13 Examine the influence of public and private interest groups in a democracy, including policy research organizations (e.g., Pew Research Center, Brookings Institute, Heritage Foundation) in shaping debate about public policy.

8.T5 The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court decisions

• 8.T5.1 Explain why the "necessary and proper" clause and why it is often referred to as the "elastic clause."

  • The Constitution: interpretation (8-B.3)

• 8.T5.2 Explain the historical context and significance of changes in the Constitution, including key amendments.

  • The Constitution: amendments (8-B.2)

• 8.T5.3 Analyze the Constitutional issues that caused the Civil War and led to the eventual expansion of the power of the Federal government and individual civil rights.

  • Causes of the Civil War: Missouri Compromise to Bleeding Kansas (8-O.9)
  • Causes of the Civil War: Dred Scott to secession (8-O.10)

• 8.T5.4 Explain the historical context and significance of laws enacted by Congress that have expanded the civil rights and equal protection for race, gender, disability (e.g., the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1965 Voting Rights Act, 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and explain how the evolving understanding of human rights has affected the movement for civil rights for all.

• 8.T5.5 Explain the principle of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) and explain how cases come before the Supreme Court, how cases are argued, and how the Court issues decisions and dissents.

  • Laws and courts (8-C.1)
  • The Marshall Court (8-M.6)

• 8.T5.6 Research, analyze, and report orally or in writing on one area (a, b, or c, below) in which Supreme Court decisions have made significant changes over time in citizens' lives.

  • 8.T5.6.a Interpretations of freedoms of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech under the First Amendment

    • The Constitution: interpretation (8-B.3)

  • 8.T5.6.b Interpretations of the due process clause and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment

    • The Constitution: interpretation (8-B.3)

  • 8.T5.6.c Interpretations in cases where individual rights and perceived community or national interests were in conflict

    • The Constitution: interpretation (8-B.3)

8.T6 The structure of Massachusetts state and local government

• 8.T6.1 Compare and contrast the functions of state government and national government.

  • The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
  • The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
  • The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)
  • State and local government (8-A.6)

• 8.T6.2 Describe provisions of the United States Constitution and the Massachusetts Constitution that define and distribute powers and authority of the federal or state government.

• 8.T6.3 Distinguish among the enumerated and implied powers in the United States Constitution and the Massachusetts Constitution.

• 8.T6.4 Compare core documents associated with the protection of individual rights, including the Bill of Rights, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution.

  • The Bill of Rights (8-B.4)

• 8.T6.5 Explain why the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is important to state government and identify the powers granted to states by the Tenth Amendment and the limits to state government outlined in it.

  • State and local government (8-A.6)

• 8.T6.6 Identify additional protections provided by the Massachusetts Constitution that are not provided by the U.S. Constitution.

• 8.T6.7 Contrast the responsibilities of government at the federal, state, and local levels (e.g., protection of individual rights and the provision of services such as law enforcement, welfare payments, and the building and funding of schools).

  • State and local government (8-A.6)

• 8.T6.8 Explain the leadership structure of the government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the function of each branch

  • 8.T6.8.a the executive branch (governor and agencies)

    • State and local government (8-A.6)

  • 8.T6.8.b the legislative branch (state representatives and state senators)

    • State and local government (8-A.6)

  • 8.T6.8.c courts of law (Supreme Judicial Court, lower court system)

    • Laws and courts (8-C.1)

• 8.T6.9 Give examples of tax-supported facilities and services provided by the Massachusetts state government and by local governments.

• 8.T6.10 Explain the major components of local government in Massachusetts, including the roles and functions of mayors, city councils, and school committees in cities; town managers, select boards, representative and open town meetings and school committees, in towns, and courts and sheriff's departments in counties.

8.T7 Freedom of the Press and News/Media Literacy

• Skills covering this topic are not currently available on IXL.