Middle School American History

8th Grade American History
Monticello Middle School
Mr. Stephens

Why is History Important?

Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results

Machiavelli


Eighth Grade Social Studies Standards print copy
Access to a computer is essential for this course. We will be in the computer lab as much as possible. The Media Center Computer Lab will also be open after school until 3:30 PM for student use. Students may request lunch passes to the Library Computer Lab. The Cleveland Heights and University Heights libraries'computer stations are also available for student use. Please see the link at the bottom of the page to contact the teacher.
Please read through the links in the 4 rows below before going to the chapter web sites.
8th Grade Social Studies Standards
Course Discription	Grading Policy	Learning Model	Assignment Procedures	Calender check often
Internet Homework Help
Site 1	Site 2	Site 3	Site 4	Site 5
Chapters are
What's Important???? Study Skills
How To Study Web Site
2011-2012 Program Planning Guide	SQRW	Strengthen Your Learning.	Cornell Note-taking	Printable Cornell Note Sheet
State of Ohio Research Resource may be used for the following assignments
After reviewing events and the growth of Enlightenment thought which played a central role in driving people to our shores, this American History course will cover our Colonial period (1607) through Reconstruction (1877). We will begin with the European explorers, such as Columbus and the Spanish conquistadores which will lead us into the Spanish, French and English colonies. Most of our focus will be the English colonies because the United States was eventually formed from these settlements. We will go into the American Revolution (1763-1789), Early Republic(1789-1815), Jacksonian Period (1815-1845), Causes of the Civil War(1840-1861), the Civil War (1861-1865), and Reconstruction (1865-1877) by the end of the school year. Our first unit, "Background History" will provide the student with a background of events, thoughts and a thumbnail sketch of the driving forces which lead to people from all walks of life to look for a new beginning – a New World.
Chapter Assignments
This book may be used for as a reference only. Click on the book icon to open World History Book American History Have your user ID & password ready If you have forgotten either, contact your teacher e-mail
"We teachers - perhaps all human beings - are in the grip of an astonishing delusion. . . . the listener extraordinary experienced and skillful at turning word(s) . . . into non-verbal reality, and when the explainer and listener share in common many of the experiences being talked about, the process may work, and some real meaning may be communicated. Most of the time, explaining does not increase understanding, and may even lessen it." (John Holt) "We can think of ourselves not as teachers but as gardeners. A gardener does not 'grow' flowers; he tries to give them what he thinks they need and they grow by themselves. We can think of ourselves not as teachers but as gardeners. A gardener does not 'grow' flowers; he tries to give them what he thinks they need and they grow by themselves". (John Holt) "We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way". (John Holt)
Chapter Links
Background History	Chapter 2 The Age of Exploration	Chapter 3 New Empires in the Americas	Replacement Point Option #1	Chapter 4 The English Colonies
History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future. Robert Penn Warren
Chapter 5 Life in the English Colonies	Chapter 6 Conflict in the Colonies	Chapter7 The American Revolution	Chapter 8 Forming a Government	Chapter 9 Citizenship and the Constitution
", , , there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right." MLK
Chapter 10 Launching the Nation	Chapter 11 The Expanding Nation	Chapter 12 A New National Identity	Replacement Credit use in the 3^rd Quarter	Chapter 13 Industrial Growth in the North
[History is] little else than a long succession of useless cruelties. Voltaire
Chapter 14 Agriculture Changes in the South	Chapter 15 New Movements in America	Chapter 16 Expanding West	Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny & War	Chapter 18 A Divided Nation
You must always know the past, for there is no real Was, there is only Is. William Faulkner
Chapter 19 The Civil War	Chapter 20 Reconstruction	Chapter 21 The West (1850 - 1890)	Research Resource #1	.
Questions ??
Mr. Stephens OGT Study Links
Click for more information
"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right." - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR