Visit Archiving Early America. Social Studies- Grade 5

Grade 5: United States History to 1877

This site will help with all of the SOLs for this grade and other grades that study American History.


5.1  The student will describe life in America before the 17th
     century by
     * identifying and describing the first Americans, their arrival
       from Asia, where they settled, and how they lived, including
       Inuits (Eskimos), Anasazi (cliff dwellers), Northwest Indians
       (Kwakiutl), Plains Indians, Mound builders, Indians of the
       Eastern forest (Iroquois, etc.), Incas, and Mayans;
     * explaining how geography and climate influenced the way
       various Indian tribes lived; and
     * evaluating the impact of native economies on their religions,
       arts, shelters, and cultures.

Alaska Native Knowledge Network

This site offers tons of information about tribes native to Alaska. Also includes links to other tribes covered in this SOL.


NativeWeb

An excellent site for those interested in researching Native Americans. This site is very organized and easy to navigate. Links are excellent.



5.2 The student will trace the routes and evaluate early explorations of the Americas, in terms of * the motivations, obstacles, and accomplishments of sponsors and leaders of key expeditions from Spain, France, Portugal, and England; * the political, economic, and social impact on the American Indians; and * the economic, ideological, religious, and nationalist forces that led to competition among European powers for control of North America.

Spanish Conquest of Native America

A mostly text site that provides the reader with the history of the Spanish Conquest in America. Includes some pictures. Articles are well written and provide accurate information.


The Columbus Navigation Homepage

An extremely detailed site that allows you to learn about Christopher Columbus and his voyages. This page includes some nice pictures as well as tons of useful information.



5.3 The student will describe colonial America, with emphasis on * the factors that led to the founding of the colonies, including escape from religious persecution, economic opportunity, release from prison, and military adventure; * geographic, political, economic, and social contrasts in the three regions of New England, the mid-Atlantic, and the South; * life in the colonies in the 18th century from the perspective of large landowners, farmers, artisans, women, and slaves; * the principal economic and political connections between the colonies and England; * sources of dissatisfaction that led to the American Revolution; * key individuals and events in the American Revolution including King George, Lord North, Lord Cornwallis, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Paine; and * major military campaigns of the Revolutionary War and reasons why the colonies were able to defeat the British.

The History Place- American Revolution


A Journey Towards Freedom

A wonderful site created by students about the American Revolution. Includes games, links, and teacher resources.


www.revwar.com

A wonderful page full of Revolutionary War information. Don't worry about signing in with the Java Script- it doesn't ask for confidential information. A pretty dense site. Make sure you take time to browse.



5.4 The student will analyze the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, in terms of * the British and American heritage, including the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, and the Articles of Confederation; * the philosophy of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence; and * the powers granted to the Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, and those reserved to the states.

The Mayflower Web Pages

A wonderful page for studying the Mayflower and all things related. A well organized page.


5.5 The student will describe challenges faced by the new United States government, with emphasis on * the writing of a new Constitution in 1787 and the struggles over ratification and the addition of a Bill of Rights; * major issues facing Congress and the first four presidents; and * conflicts between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton that resulted in the emergence of two political parties.

Index to the Constitution

This page is a listing of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Amendments. A good resource page if you want to read all of it.

Web Guide to the Constitution

This is a wonderful page that allows you to read the Constitution and view related links.

5.6 The student will describe growth and change in America from 1801 to 1861, with emphasis on * territorial exploration, expansion, and settlement, including the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, the acquisition of Florida, Texas, Oregon, and California; * how the effects of geography, climate, canals and river systems, economic incentives, and frontier spirit influenced the distribution and movement of people, goods, and services; * the principal relationships between the United States and its neighbors (current Mexico and Canada) and the European powers (including the Monroe Doctrine), and describe how those relationships influenced westward expansion; * the impact of inventions, including the cotton gin, McCormick reaper, steamboat, and steam locomotive on life in America; and * the development of money, saving, and credit.

The Louisiana Purchase

A very good web site about the Louisiana Purchase. Includes links to other sites as well as history surrounding purchase.

Lewis and Clark

A wonderful page. Easy to navigate and full of useful resources.

Agriculture in the 1890's

A very informative page that informs the reader of various inventions and their impact on society.

5.7 The student will identify causes, key events, and effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction, with emphasis on * economic and philosophical differences between the North and South, as exemplified by men such as Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun; * events leading to secession and war; * leaders on both sides of the war including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Frederick Douglass, and William Lloyd Garrison; * critical developments in the war, including major battles, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Lee's surrender at Appomattox; * life on the battlefield and on the homefront; * basic provisions and postwar impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution; and * the impact of Reconstruction policies on the South.

American Civil War Information Archive

The Blue and Gray Trail

The Civil War

The most comprehensive page about the Civil War on the Internet.

United States Civil War

5.8 The student will interpret patriotic slogans and excerpts from notable speeches and documents in United States history up to 1877, including "Give me liberty or give me death," "Remember the Alamo," "E Pluribus Unum," the Gettysburg Address, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence.

The Gettysburg Address

The Alamo

The United States Constitution

5.9 The student will develop skills for historical analysis, including the ability to * identify, analyze, and interpret primary sources (artifacts, diaries, letters, photographs, art, documents, and newspapers) and contemporary media (television, movies, and computer information systems) to better understand events and life in United States history to 1877; * construct various time lines of American history from pre- Columbian times to 1877 highlighting landmark dates, technological changes, major political and military events, and major historical figures; and * locate on a United States map major physical features, bodies of water, exploration and trade routes, the states that entered the union up to 1877, and identify the states that formed the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Please see previous SOLs for links.

5.10 The student will develop skills in discussion, debate, and persuasive writing by analyzing historical situations and events, including * different historical perspectives such as American Indians and settlers, slaves and slave holders, Patriots and Tories, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Rebels and Yankees, Republicans and Democrats, farmers and city folks, etc.; and * different evaluations of the causes, costs, and benefits of major events in American history up to 1877 such as the American Revolution, the Constitutional Convention, the Civil War, Reconstruction, etc.

Making of America

Valley of the Shadow

A view of the Civil War from cities on either side of the Mason-Dixon Line.

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