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

What were the challenges faced by early settlers, how did colonial societies develop, and what role did the growing tensions with Britain play?

What were the circumstances that led to the American Revolution?

What problems did the new nation face under the Articles of Confederation and why was the creation of the Constitution proposed as a solution?

How can understanding the principles of the Constitution help citizens participate effectively in a democratic society?

How did the Constitution influence decisions in the Early Republic?

How did Americans and democratic institutions respond to the rapid economic changes of the early nineteenth century?

How did the drive for territorial expansion shape the nation’s identity and create new challenges for the United States?

How did fundamental disagreements over slavery and its expansion lead to a devastating civil war that transformed the United States?

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.

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.

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.