Grade 6 Social Studies NJSLS Standards

Civics, Government and Human Rights

Era 4 - Expanding Exchanges and Encounters (500 CE–1450 CE)

Era 3 - The Classical Civilizations of the Mediterranean World, India, and China (1000 BCE–600 CE)

Era 2 - Early Civilizations and the Emergence of Pastoral Peoples: Early River Valley Civilizations (4000–1000 BCE)

Era 1 - The Beginnings of Human Society

Era 5 - Civil War and Reconstruction (1850–1877)

Era 4 - Expansion and Reform (1801–1861)

Era 3 - Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)

U.S. History: America in the World

Use primary and secondary sources to assess whether or not the ideals found in the Declaration of Independence were fulfilled for women, African Americans, and Native Americans during this time period.

Research and prioritize the most significant events that led to the expansion of voting rights during the Jacksonian period.

Explain how and why constitutional civil liberties were impacted by acts of government during the Early Republic (i.e., Alien and Sedition Acts).

Evaluate the impact of the institution of slavery on the political and economic expansion of the United States.

Construct an argument to explain how the expansion of slavery violated human rights and contradicted American ideals.

Examine sources from a variety of perspectives to describe efforts to reform education, women's rights, slavery, and other issues during the Antebellum period.

Cite evidence to determine the role that compromise played in the creation and adoption of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Cite evidence to evaluate the extent to which the leadership and decisions of early administrations of the national government met the goals established in the Constitution.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the fundamental principles of the Constitution (i.e., consent of the governed, rule of law, federalism, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights) in establishing a federal government that allows for growth and change over time.

Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.

Use data and other evidence to determine the extent to which demographics influenced the debate on representation in Congress and federalism by examining the New Jersey and Virginia plans.

Identify the effect of inflation and debt on the American people and evaluate the policies of state and national governments during this time.

Analyze the debates involving the National Bank, uniform currency, and tariffs, and determine the extent to which each of these economic tools met the economic challenges facing the new nation.

Assess the impact of the Louisiana Purchase and western exploration on the expansion and economic development of the United States.

Explain how major technological developments revolutionized land and water transportation, as well as the economy, in New Jersey and the nation.

Analyze how technological innovations affected the status and social class of different groups of people and explain the outcomes that resulted.

Use maps and other geographic tools to construct an argument on the impact of geography on the developments and outcomes of the American Revolution including New Jersey's pivotal role.

Map territorial expansion and settlement, highlighting the locations of conflicts with and resettlement of Native Americans.

Explain how the consequences of the Seven Years War, changes in British policies toward American colonies, and responses by various groups and individuals in the North American colonies led to the American Revolution.

Explain how political parties were formed and continue to be shaped by differing perspectives regarding the role and power of federal government.

Use geographic tools and resources to investigate how conflicts and alliances among European countries and Native American groups impacted the expansion of American territory.

Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution in terms of the decision-making powers of national government.

Explain the changes in America's relationships with other nations by analyzing policies, treaties, tariffs, and agreements.

Explain the growing resistance to slavery and New Jersey's role in the Underground Railroad.

Analyze how the concept of Manifest Destiny influenced the acquisition of land through annexation, diplomacy, and war.

Analyze the push-pull factors that led to increase in immigration and explain why ethnic and cultural conflicts resulted.

Prioritize the causes and events that led to the Civil War from different perspectives.

Analyze critical events and battles of the Civil War from different perspectives.

Assess the human and material costs of the Civil War in the North and South.

Assess the role of various factors that affected the course and outcome of the Civil War (i.e., geography, natural resources, demographics, transportation, leadership, and technology).

Compare and contrast the approaches of Congress and Presidents Lincoln and Johnson toward the reconstruction of the South.

Analyze the economic impact of Reconstruction on the South from different perspectives.

Construct an argument that prioritizes the causes and events that led to the Civil War using multiple sources from different perspectives.

Analyze how the leadership of George Washington during the American Revolution and as president allowed for the establishment of American democracy.

Analyze a variety of sources to make evidence-based inferences about how prominent individuals and other nations contributed to the causes, execution, and outcomes of the American Revolution.

Use primary sources as evidence to explain why the Declaration of Independence was written and how its key principles evolved to become unifying ideas of American democracy.

Examine the roles and perspectives of various socioeconomic groups (e.g., rural farmers, urban craftsmen, northern merchants, and southern planters), African Americans, Native Americans, and women during the American Revolution, and determine how these groups were impacted by the war.

Analyze how the terms of the Treaty of Paris affected United States relations with Native Americans and with European powers that had territories in North America from multiple perspectives.

Analyze the effectiveness of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution from multiple perspectives.

Examine the roles of women, African Americans, and Native Americans in the Civil War.

Explain how and why the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address continue to impact American life.

World History / Global Studies

Compare and contrast the American legal system with the legal systems of classical civilizations and determine the extent to which these early systems influenced our current legal system (e.g., Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, Roman Justinian Code, Israelite Jewish Law).

Use evidence to describe the impact of Athenian democracy and the Roman Republic on the development of the United State Constitution.

Cite evidence of the influence of medieval English legal and constitutional practices on modern democratic thought and institutions (i.e., the Magna Carta, parliament, the development of habeas corpus, and an independent judiciary).

Determine the role of slavery in the economic and social structures of early river valley civilizations.

Compare and contrast the rights and responsibilities of free men, women, slaves, and foreigners in the political, economic, and social structures of classical civilizations.

Explain how/why different early river valley civilizations developed similar forms of government and legal structures.

Compare and contrast the methods (i.e., autocratic rule, philosophies, and bureaucratic structures) used by the rulers of Rome, China, and India to control and unify their expanding empires.

Analyze the role of religion and other means rulers used to unify and centrally govern expanding territories with diverse populations. The principles of the United States government are based on political philosophies, ideas, and experiences of earlier governments.

Analyze the impact of expanding land and sea trade routes as well as a uniform system of exchange in the Mediterranean World and Asia.

Explain how classical civilizations used technology and innovation to enhance agricultural/ manufacturing output and commerce, to expand military capabilities, to improve life in urban areas, and to allow for greater division of labor.

Compare and contrast the Japanese and European systems of feudalism and the effectiveness of each in promoting social, economic, and political order.

Explain how technological advancements led to greater economic specialization, improved weaponry, trade, and the development of a class system in early river valley civilizations.

Determine how Africa's physical geography and natural resources presented challenges and opportunities for trade, development, and the spread of religion.

Determine the extent to which geography influenced settlement, the development of trade networks, technological innovations, and the sustainability of early river valley civilizations.

Explain how geography influenced the development of the political, economic, and cultural centers of each empire as well as the empires' relationships with other parts of the world.

Use geographic models to determine the impact of environmental modifications made by earlier civilizations on the current day environmental challenges.

Explain how the geographies and climates of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas influenced their economic development and interaction or isolation with other societies.

Explain why the Arabian Peninsula's physical features and location made it the epicenter of Afro-Eurasian trade and fostered the spread of Islam into Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Assess how maritime and overland trade routes impacted urbanization, transportation, communication, and the development of international trade centers (i.e., the African caravan and Silk Road).

Use maps to show how the interaction between the Islamic world and medieval Europe increased trade, enhanced technology innovation and impacted science, thought, and the arts.

Compare and contrast the social organization, natural resources, and land use of early hunters/gatherers and those who lived in early agrarian societies.

Use maps to examine the impact of the various migratory patterns of hunters/gatherers that moved from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas.

Use geographic models to describe how the availability of natural resources influenced the development of the political, economic, and cultural systems of each of the classical civilizations and provided motivation for expansion.

Explain how geography and the availability of natural resources led to both the development of classical civilizations and to their decline.

Compare and contrast physical and political maps of early river valley civilizations and their modern counterparts and determine the geopolitical impact of these civilizations, then and now (i.e., Mesopotamia and Iraq; Ancient Egypt and Modern Egypt; Indus River Valley and Modern Pakistan/India; Ancient China and Modern China).

Analyze the immediate and long-term impact on China and Europe of the open exchange between Europe and the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty.

Analyze the factors that led to the rise and fall of various early river valley civilizations and determine whether there was a common pattern of growth and decline.

Evaluate the importance and enduring legacy of the major achievements of Greece, Rome, India, and China over time.

Determine common factors that contributed to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, Gupta India, and Han China.

Describe the influence of the agricultural revolution on population growth and the subsequent development of civilizations (e.g., the impact of food surplus from farming).

Determine the impact of technological advancements on hunter/gatherer and agrarian societies.

Describe how the development of both written and unwritten languages impacted human understanding, development of culture, and social structure.

Demonstrate an understanding of pre-agricultural and post-agricultural periods in terms of relative length of time.

Evaluate the importance and enduring legacy of the major achievements of the early river valley civilizations over time.

Analyze the impact of religion on daily life, government, and culture in various early river valley civilizations.

Explain how the development of written language transformed all aspects of life in early river valley civilizations.

Determine the extent to which religion, economic issues, and conflict shaped the values and decisions of the classical civilizations.

Determine which events led to the rise and eventual decline of European feudalism.

Explain how and why the interrelationships among improved agricultural production, population growth, urbanization, and commercialization led to the rise of powerful states and kingdoms (i.e., Europe, Asia, Americas).

Assess the demographic, economic, and religious impact of the plague on Europe.

Analyze the causes and outcomes of the Crusades from different perspectives, including the perspectives of European political and religious leaders, the crusaders, Jews, Muslims, and traders.

Determine the extent to which the Byzantine Empire influenced the Islamic world and western Europe.

Analyze the role of religion and economics in shaping each empire's social hierarchy and evaluate the impact these hierarchical structures had on the lives of various groups of people.

Evaluate the importance and enduring legacy of the major achievements of the people living Asia, Africa (Islam), Europe and the Americas over time.

Explain how archaeological discoveries are used to develop and enhance understanding of life prior to written records.

Compare and contrast social hierarchies in classical civilizations as they relate to power, wealth, and equality.

Compare the status of groups in the Ancient World to those of people today and evaluate how individuals perceived the principles of liberty and equality then and now (i.e., political, economic, and social).

Compare and contrast the tenets of various world religions that developed in or around this time period (i.e., Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Taoism), their patterns of expansion, and their responses to the current challenges of globalization.

Active Citizenship in the 21st Century

Identify an issue of inequality, develop multiple solutions, and communicate the best one to an appropriate government body.

Make a claim based on evidence to determine the extent and the limitations of First Amendment rights (e.g., U.S. Supreme Court decisions).

Use historical case studies and current events to explain why due process is essential for the protection of individual rights and maintenance of limited government.

Construct an argument as to the source of human rights and how they are best protected.

Deliberate on a public issue affecting an upcoming election, consider opposing arguments, and develop a reasoned conclusion.

Propose and defend a position regarding a public policy issue at the appropriate local, state, or national level.

Construct a claim as to why it is important for democracy that individuals are informed by facts, aware of diverse viewpoints, and willing to take action on public issues.

Evaluate, take, and defend a position on why government is necessary, and the purposes government should serve.

Evaluate the extent to which different forms of government reflect the history and values of various societies (e.g., monarchy, democracy, republic, dictatorship).

Use a variety of sources from multiple perspectives to examine the role of individuals, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a local or global issue and share this information with a governmental or nongovernmental organization as a way to gain support for addressing the issue.

Investigate the roles of political, civil, and economic organizations in shaping people's lives and share this information with individuals who might benefit from this information.

Analyze primary sources to explain how democratic ideas in the United States developed from the historical experiences of ancient societies, England, and the North American colonies.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the fundamental principles of the Constitution (i.e., consent of the governed, rule of law, federalism, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights) in establishing a federal government that allows for growth and change over time.

Take a position on an issue in which fundamental ideals and principles are in conflict (e.g., liberty, equality).

Use evidence and quantitative data to propose or defend a public policy related to climate change.

Engage in simulated democratic processes (e.g., legislative hearings, judicial proceedings, elections) to understand how conflicting points of view are addressed in a democratic society.

Seek the perspectives of multiple stakeholders with diverse points of view regarding a local budget issue and take a position on proposed policy.

Compare how ideas become laws at the local, state, and national level.