Similarity: Students analyze the principles of documents that have shaped the U.S. government, including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and federal documents. They dig deep into the fundamentals of a country’s political system and understand how citizens can participate in it.
difference: The old curriculum includes religious, economic, and political reasons for immigrating from Europe to America. Students review life in the 13 colonies and colonial America, then describe how slavery developed and the efforts to protect and abolish it. Eighth grade students explore the causes and effects of the events that led to the founding of the United States, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and major treaties with the “Indian Nations.” There are also lessons about the causes, events, and consequences of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.
The new standards are designed to help students deepen their understanding of civics and explain the purposes of government. They examine the Constitution and “examine the extent to which some of those rights have been realized.” They learn how governments in the United States and abroad are structured. Students also examine how bills become law, the role of the Supreme Court, and learn how to communicate with elected leaders. Students then learn more about the history of international alliances, voter suppression, and other issues related to access and power. Students will learn how protests can lead to change and explore how media and social media can shape how the public understands issues.