Government
1. I can explain some of the challenges faced by the new nation under the Articles of Confederation, and analyze the development of the Constitution as a new plan for governing.
2. I can describe the powers of the national government and state governments under the Articles of Confederation.
3. I can give examples of problems the country faced under the Articles of Confederation (e.g., lack of national army, competing currencies, reliance on state governments for money).
4. I can explain why the Constitutional Convention was convened and why the Constitution was written.
5. I can describe the issues over representation and slavery the Framers faced at the Constitutional Convention and how they were addressed in the Constitution (Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise).
6. I can give reasons why the Framers wanted to limit the power of government (e.g., fear of a strong executive, representative government, importance of individual rights).
7. I can describe the principle of federalism and how it is expressed through the sharing and distribution of power as stated in the Constitution (e.g., enumerated and reserved powers).
8. I can describe the concern that some people had about individual rights and why the inclusion of a Bill of Rights was needed for ratification.
9. I can describe the rights found in the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Amendments to the United States Constitution.