CONCEPTS

Independence and Responsibility

Power Standards

• Compare and contrast the structure of state and federal government.
• Show the relationship between natural resources and economic growth.
• Describe how early settlers in Illinois and the United States adapted to, used and changed the environment.
• Utilize principle parallels and meridians on maps and globes to locate specific places.

Essential Understandings & Guiding Questions

Essential Understanding: The availability of resources creates the opportunity for economic growth.

Guiding Questions

• How do resources of regions differ?
• What type of regional resources promote economic growth?
• How does economic growth lead to independence?
• How do different groups rely on one another?

Essential Understanding: As communities evolve, rules are created to establish stability.

Guiding Questions

• How do rules help establish stability?
• Why is having a system of government important?
• Why do people need government?
• Who creates the government?
• What documents are the foundation of American government?
• How do citizens interact with governmental systems?

CRITICAL CONTENT

Main historical timeline of Illinois

Development of Illinois

• Transportation
• Trade
• Economics
• Settlement patterns/Population

Key figures instrumental to the growth of Illinois

Environmental issues

Physical features

Natural resources

Illinois Constitution and Government

State vs. federal government (structures/leaders)

CONCEPTS

Independence and Responsibility

POWER STANDARDS

• Explain why significant events in early American history are important today.
• Explain how differences in beliefs may lead to conflict and/or change.
• Show the relationship between natural resources and economic growth.
• Describe how early settlers in Illinois and the United States adapted to, used and changed the environment.
• Utilize principle parallels and meridians on maps and globes to locate specific places.
• Demonstrate an understanding of relative location by using it to describe and locate countries.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS & GUIDING QUESTIONS

Essential Understanding: People take risks to make possible improvements in their lives.

Guiding Questions

• What motivates a person to take risks?
• How are the risks of immigration today different from the risks of colonial times?
• How can a person’s life be changed by risk taking?
• What role does perseverance and courage play during risk taking?

Essential Understanding: Differences in social, political, and economic beliefs may lead to conflict.

Guiding Questions

• How are beliefs different?
• How are beliefs influenced?
• Why do differences lead to conflict?
• How do people react to conflict?
• Why are differences valuable?
• How can different personal experiences lead to conflict?

Essential Understanding: Exposure to different lifestyles and perspectives may force people to evaluate their own beliefs.

Guiding Questions

• How does a new environment influence your behavior?
• Why do people take risks to protect their own beliefs?
• Why are people discriminated against?
• When have you experienced prejudice or discrimination?

CRITICAL CONTENT

Motivation for journeys and settlement

Benefits and challenges of colonization

Settlement patterns

Impact of leadership

Compare and contrast characteristics of colonial regions

• Natural resources
• Culture and traditions
• Roles of men, women, and children
• Beginning of government structure

Economics of the era

• Triangular trade
• Supply and demand
• Natural resources
• Inventions

Religious persecution

• Cycle of racism and similarities to the present day
  (Colonists left homeland due to religious persecution and yet they persecuted others for differing beliefs, languages, skin color, ethnicity, etc.)

CONCEPTS

Independence and Responsibility

POWER STANDARDS

• Explain why significant events in early American history are important today.
• Explain how differences in beliefs may lead to conflict and/or change.
• Show the relationship between natural resources and economic growth.
• Describe how early settlers in Illinois and the United States adapted to, used and changed the environment.
• Utilize principle parallels and meridians on maps and globes to locate specific places.
• Demonstrate an understanding of relative location by using it to describe and locate countries.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS & GUIDING QUESTIONS

Essential Understanding: People take risks to make possible improvements in their lives.

Guiding Questions

• What motivates a person to take risks?
• How are the risks of immigration today different from the risks of colonial times?
• How can a person’s life be changed by risk taking?
• What role does perseverance and courage play during risk taking?

Essential Understanding: Differences in social, political, and economic beliefs may lead to conflict.

Guiding Questions

• How are beliefs different?
• How are beliefs influenced?
• Why do differences lead to conflict?
• How do people react to conflict?
• Why are differences valuable?

Essential Understanding: Economic growth and independence leads to greater responsibility and the need for self-governing.

Guiding Questions

• How are independence and responsibility connected?
• What does is mean to be a responsible citizen?
• How does economic growth lead to independence?
• What documents are the foundation of American government?
• How do these documents meet the needs, beliefs, and values of the people?

CRITICAL CONTENT

King of England (Monarchy) vs. Colonists (Independence)

Significance of Declaration of Independence

Outcomes of social and political activism

Key leaders – Washington, Jefferson, Franklin

Major events before, during, and after war

The U.S. Constitution

• The process leading to the document
• Need for and purpose of this document
• Preamble, Articles, Bill of Rights, Amendments
• Relevance of the U.S. Constitution today
• Systems of government (local, state, federal)
• Leadership roles
• Laws
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens