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Building a Self-Governing People: Civics & US History for Middle School

About the Resource

This nine-unit U.S. history and civics curriculum empowers middle school students to explore how Americans have worked to create and sustain a self-governing, free society. Through scaffolded Document-Based Question (DBQ) assessments, students analyze key events, people, and ideas while practicing historical thinking and civic reasoning.  

The curriculum emphasizes the Founding Principles and civic virtues that have guided the nation across time, helping students connect the past to their present and future roles as engaged citizens. 

​​​​​Key Features 

  • Scaffolded DBQ Process: Students gradually build toward a summative DBQ in each unit with structured skill development. 
  • Primary Source Literacy: Curated sources and guided analysis help students evaluate evidence and perspectives. 
  • Embedded Teacher Supports: Lessons include context briefs, adjustment ideas, and AI prompt suggestions. 
  • Civics-History Integration: Founding principles and civic virtues are woven throughout historical content. 
  • Age-Appropriate Design: Engaging examples, peer-to-peer interaction, and accessible language tailored to middle school learners. 
  • Leveled Readings: Texts at varied reading levels help teachers differentiate instruction.  
  • Interactive Games & Dialogues: Classroom-ready tools promote engagement and skill-building.  
  • Diverse Perspectives: Students explore the complexity of the American experience through multiple voices. 
  • Multimedia Elements: Original video series and interactive timelines deepen understanding. 

About the Authors

Written by the Bill of Rights Institute content team with review from scholars Frank Garmon and Axel Ramirez. 

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What makes this resource different from others of its kind?

It blends civics and history in every unit, offering middle school students a meaningful pathway to connect historical content with civic identity. The developmental design bridges our elementary and high school curricula for a seamless learning arc. 

Why should a teacher use this resource?

It’s flexible, teacher-friendly, and rich with embedded support. Every lesson is classroom-ready and includes guidance for differentiation and adaptation. 

What have teachers said about this resource?

  • I would recommend-many of the materials are similar to what I used in the 12 years I taught AP U.S. History, and this is for grades 6-8! That statement is not a critique but an affirmation of the level of rigor. 
  • Overall, I believe this product is superior to most of what I see in middle school classrooms and district curriculum guides. 
  • These are really wonderful products and a great resource for teachers to use. 
  • Well done. It aligns well with standards/expectations at this grade band. 

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Unit & Key Figures Overview

Colonial Era (Unit 1) 

  • William Penn 
  • John Winthrop 
  • Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore) 
  • Settlers, traders, and religious communities (e.g., Puritans, Quakers) 

American Revolution (Unit 2) 

  • Thomas Paine 
  • Samuel Johnson 
  • George Washington 
  • King George III 
  • Thomas Jefferson 

Constitution and Ratification (Unit 3) 

  • James Madison 
  • Thomas Jefferson 
  • Robert Yates (Brutus I) 

Civic and Constitutional Life (Unit 4) 

  • James Madison (Federalist #51) 
  • U.S. Supreme Court Justices (from Miranda v. Arizona, Engel v. Vitale) 

Early Republic (Unit 5) 

  • George Washington 
  • Alexander Hamilton 
  • Thomas Jefferson 
  • John Adams 
  • James Madison 

America in Transition (Unit 6) 

  • Frederick Douglass 
  • Angelina Grimké 
  • Catharine Beecher 
  • Johan Schütz (immigrant voice) 
  • Henry David Thoreau 
  • Women of the Seneca Falls Convention 

American Expansion (Unit 7) 

  • Andrew Jackson 
  • Native American leaders (implied: Trail of Tears) 
  • Abolitionists (e.g., William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass) 

Civil War (Unit 8) 

  • Abraham Lincoln 
  • Jefferson Davis 
  • Alexander Stephens 
  • Republican Party leaders 

Reconstruction (Unit 9) 

  • Andrew Johnson 
  • Ulysses S. Grant 
  • Thomas Nast (cartoonist) 
  • Jourdon Anderson 
  • O.O. Howard 
  • African American leaders and communities 

5 Units

3 Videos

Video

The Colonial World | Civics and U.S. History for Middle School Video

6 Min

In this middle school history lesson, travel back to 1620 to examine how early American colonists took their first steps toward self-government. Using the painting Mayflower Compact 1620 by John Leone Jerome Ferris, students explore how pilgrims and other settlers aboard the Mayflower created a social contract that laid the foundation for democratic rule in the New World. How did different groups in the American colonies establish and practice self-government? Through guided historical thinking, students begin to craft a thesis and support it with reasoning, key skills they'll apply in the unit’s scaffolded Document-Based Question (DBQ) assessment.

Video

American Revolution | Civics and U.S. History for Middle School Video

5 Min

In this middle school history lesson, students explore the growing tension between Britain and the American colonies in the decades leading up to the American Revolution. Using four key documents, the Stamp Act Resolves, the Declaratory Act, and the Declaration of Independence, students investigate how different perspectives on taxation and representation fueled a foundational debate about self-governance. How did British and colonial perspectives on self-governance compare in the decades leading up to the American Revolution? Through guided analysis and color-coded document comparison, students uncover the themes that shaped this revolutionary moment. They’ll practice crafting a thesis supported by evidence, essential skills for completing the unit’s scaffolded Document-Based Question (DBQ) assessment.

Video

Constitution and Ratification | Civics and U.S. History for Middle School

5 Min

In this middle school history lesson, students explore the debate over ratifying the U.S. Constitution by analyzing Amos Doolittle’s political cartoon The Looking Glass. Through careful examination of the image’s symbolism, captions, and context, students uncover how Federalists and Anti-Federalists clashed over the principles of government power, federalism, and liberty. What were the principles behind the new Constitution, and how did they shape the national debate? Guided by the VIEW method—Voice, Intent, Environment, and Who—students learn to decode historical documents and evaluate competing political perspectives. By crafting a thesis and using visual evidence, students sharpen essential historical thinking and civic reasoning skills.