Overview

In seventh grade, students analyze American history from the time of indigenous settlement through the Reconstruction era. The course analyzes the complex societies established by Indigenous Nations and the interaction of Indigenous, enslaved and free Black Americans, and European populations in colonial America. Students evaluate the political principles and values underlying the founding of the new republic and consider the legacy of the representative government formed by the US Constitution. Throughout the course, students consider the ways in which unresolved conflicts and imperfect compromises shaped— and continue to shape— the history of the nation.

In this course, students will analyze the physical expansion, economic growth, and cultural development of the United States. Students analyze the impact of early US history, including the legacy of slavery, on different groups of people. The year culminates with an evaluation of the ongoing legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Throughout their studies, students integrate multiple sources of information, consider multiple perspectives and interpretations, and evaluate multiple causes and effects of historical events. Students construct, refine and present interpretations about the past, contextualize multiple sources, and draw connections between the past and present.