History can be described or defined in many ways.  It is the aggregate of past events; the continuum of events occuring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future; a record or narrative description of past events; the discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings; all that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; or a body of knowledge.  History is also a way to pass on our culture.

The 8th grade social studies curriculum takes a look at our United States history. Through our studies of the United States, we will integrate the study of U.S. history, world history, government, economics, and geography - the 5 strands as identified by the Arizona Department of Education.

Our units of study, in order of study, will include:

Early English Colonies
Roanoke, Jamestown, Plymouth
New England, Middle, Southern Colonies

Road to Revolution
French and Indian War
Tea Act, Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Intolerable Acts
Declaration of Independence

Revolutionary War
Major events and battles
Founder and Framers

Evolution of the United States Government
Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, John Locke, Mayflower Compact
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation, Constitution, Bill of Rights
Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, Great Compromise
Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances
Electoral Process
Supreme Court Cases

Historical Foundations of Economics
Adam Smith
Entrepreneurs
Personal Budgets (credit, stocks, investment, opportunity cost, savings)

Pre World War II
World Governments
Push/Pull Factors, Causes of WWII

World War II
WWII and economic recovery from Great Depression
Manhattan Project
D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Hiroshima

Cold War
Marshall Plan
NATO/Warsaw Pact
McCarthyism
Cuban Missile Crisis
Korean War
Vietnam

Civil Rights
Civil Rights Acts
Civil Rights Movement
Supreme Court cases

Contemporary World
Nixon Presidency
Camp David Peace Talks
Persian Gulf War
Sept. 11/Afghanistan/Iraq War