Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Grade 6: Making A New Nation: United States Beginnings and Civic Foundations

Other Alabama Social Studies sets

Colonization of North AmericaSS24.6.CNA

  • 1

    Describe major Indigenous societies in North America prior to European contact.SS24.6.1

    1. a

      Compare the political and social structures of Southeastern Woodland Indigenous peoples and those of another region of North America.SS24.6.1a

  • 2

    Compare and contrast the reasons for British, French, and Spanish colonization in North America as well as why individuals migrated to the colonies, including mercantilism, religious persecution, poverty, oppression, and new opportunities.SS24.6.2

    1. a

      Summarize how the Crusades, Reformation, and Renaissance influenced European exploration and describe how individuals contributed to these movements.SS24.6.2a

    2. b

      Trace the routes of key European expeditions in North America and describe their effects on colonization in the New World.SS24.6.2b

    3. c

      Locate on a map of North America the areas of European colonization, including colonies of England, France, Russia, and Spain.SS24.6.2c

  • 3

    Describe the effects of European expeditions and colonization on the economic, geographic, and social conditions of Indigenous peoples during the fifteenth through eighteenth centuries in North America.SS24.6.3

    1. a

      Summarize how interactions between colonists and Indigenous peoples resulted in both conflict and cooperation, including economic and military alliances.SS24.6.3a

  • 4

    Compare and contrast the key characteristics, including political structures, of the New England, Middle, Chesapeake, and Southern colonies.SS24.6.4

    1. a

      Explain how climate and geography shaped the economic identities of the colonial regions.SS24.6.4a

    2. b

      Differentiate among the various forms of colonial governments and identify examples of self-government in the colonies, including the Mayflower Compact, New England town meetings, and the Virginia House of Burgesses.SS24.6.4b

    3. c

      Identify individuals in colonial America who sought change for their communities, and describe how their efforts led to shifts in society.SS24.6.4c

  • 5

    Explain how the desire for religious freedom served as a motivation for establishing colonies.SS24.6.5

    1. a

      Summarize efforts to limit religious freedom in the colonies.SS24.6.5a

    2. b

      Describe the contributions of colonists in bringing about religious change in colonial society.SS24.6.5b

    3. c

      Explain the influence of the Great Awakening on colonial society, including how it shaped the political beliefs of colonists.SS24.6.5c

  • 6

    Trace the economic and cultural interactions across continents and the colonies resulting from the triangular trade routes, including the forced migration of Africans through the transatlantic slave trade and experiences of the Middle Passage.SS24.6.6

    1. a

      Compare and contrast the institution of slavery in different colonial regions.SS24.6.6a

    2. b

      Summarize the purpose of slave codes in colonial society and explain how they demonstrated that laws can be discriminatory and unfair.SS24.6.6b

    3. c

      Describe how enslaved people and abolitionists sought to oppose slavery in colonial America.SS24.6.6c

The American RevolutionSS24.6.AR

  • 7

    Identify causes and events leading to the War for Independence, including salutary neglect, the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Intolerable Acts, Virginia Convention (1775), and the Declaration of Independence, and describe how these events escalated tension between the colonies and Great Britain.SS24.6.7

    1. a

      Develop an argument defending the belief that the French and Indian War served as a defining event in the relationship between the American colonies and British government.SS24.6.7a

    2. b

      Compare and contrast methods of colonial activism and protest against British policies, including boycotts, craftwork, letters, petitions, poems, public oration, and speeches.SS24.6.7b

    3. c

      Describe the positive and negative effects of taxation and trade on the economic livelihood of American colonies in the 1760s and 1770s and explain how this issue violated colonists’ expectations of representative government.SS24.6.7c

    4. d

      Summarize the arguments put forth by Patriots and Loyalists regarding the question of independence from Great Britain, and describe efforts to compromise.SS24.6.7d

    5. e

      Define the key principles contained in the Declaration of Independence, including inalienable rights, equality, and social contract, and explain how they have been presented in significant statements of belief throughout United States history to the present.SS24.6.7e

  • 8

    Differentiate among the outcomes of major events and campaigns of the War for Independence, including the northern, middle, southern, and western theaters.SS24.6.8

    1. a

      Explain how the War for Independence created hardship and required sacrifice by colonists on the home front as well as by soldiers.SS24.6.8a

    2. b

      Research and report on the contributions to victory in the War for Independence from women, Black Americans, and supporters from other countries.SS24.6.8b

    3. c

      Explain the involvement of Indigenous peoples in the War for Independence and the effects of the war on Indigenous societies.SS24.6.8c

    4. d

      Explain why Loyalists and other colonists sided with the British during the War for Independence and how Great Britain’s defeat and withdrawal impacted their lives.SS24.6.8d

  • 9

    Summarize the reasons for the colonies’ victory in the War for Independence.SS24.6.9

    1. a

      Evaluate the political and military contributions to the American Revolution of Founding Fathers, including their efforts to mobilize support, develop military strategy, and conduct foreign diplomacy.SS24.6.9a

    2. b

      Analyze how the Treaty of Paris of 1783 affected the development of the United States, including the establishment of its boundaries.SS24.6.9b

Creating a GovernmentSS24.6.CG

  • 10

    Explain how events and issues of the Critical Period (1783-1789) exposed limitations of the Articles of Confederation and contributed to calls for a stronger national government.SS24.6.10

    1. a

      Compare and contrast the division of power among levels of government in unitary, federal, and confederate styles of governance.SS24.6.10a

    2. b

      Describe how the Northwest Land Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 established a foundation for future territorial growth of the United States and restricted the growth of slavery.SS24.6.10b

    3. c

      Identify innovative ideas for democratic governance and the expansion of citizen rights that were included in state constitutions during the Critical Period.SS24.6.10c

  • 11

    Analyze how collaboration and compromise were employed to address key issues during the Constitutional Convention, including representation in Congress (Great Compromise and bicameral legislature), balance of power between national and state governments (establishment of the system of federalism), limiting government power (establishment of the three branches), and slavery (Three-Fifths Compromise).SS24.6.11

    1. a

      Describe the role of Founding Fathers at the Constitutional Convention and explain how they contributed to the development of the Constitution.SS24.6.11a

    2. b

      Summarize the arguments favoring and opposing ratification of the Constitution of the United States.SS24.6.11b

    3. c

      Assess the arguments made by groups and individuals seeking greater inclusion and advancement of fundamental values in the late 1700s, including women and Black Americans, who were excluded from early American political participation.SS24.6.11c

Foundations of American GovernmentSS24.6.AG

  • 12

    Explain how forms of governments established prior to the founding of the United States influenced the formation of the new nation’s system of government.SS24.6.12

    1. a

      Describe how the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights contributed to the development of limited government.SS24.6.12a

    2. b

      Compare and contrast how Enlightenment thinkers interpreted the purpose of government and the relationship between government and citizens.SS24.6.12b

    3. c

      Develop an argument supporting the idea that the Iroquois Confederacy’s form of representative government influenced attempts of the colonies to unite as one nation.SS24.6.12c

  • 13

    Describe major ideas, concepts, and limitations of the Constitution of the United States.SS24.6.13

    1. a

      Explain how a written constitution aids in establishing limited government and the rule of law.SS24.6.13a

    2. b

      Describe how the authors of the Constitution viewed the primary functions of government, based on the wording of the Preamble.SS24.6.13b

    3. c

      Analyze key elements of the Constitution that deal with citizenship and civic participation, including the path to citizenship and the process for amending the Constitution.SS24.6.13c

  • 14

    Outline the process of selecting political leaders of the United States as established in the Constitution and its amendments.SS24.6.14

  • 15

    Explain how the system of federalism in the United States divides power between national and state governments as well as between state and local governments.SS24.6.15

    1. a

      Summarize how federalism balances concerns regarding limiting a powerful national government, securing regional interests, and sharing power across the United States.SS24.6.15a

  • 16

    Compare duties and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches at various levels of government.SS24.6.16

    1. a

      Illustrate and explain the relationship among the three branches, including checks and balances and separation of powers.SS24.6.16a

    2. b

      Identify key positions in each branch and describe their responsibilities.SS24.6.16b

  • 17

    Explain key rights included in the Bill of Rights and provide examples of how citizens exercise these rights in today’s society.SS24.6.17

    1. a

      Trace the origins of rights contained in the Bill of Rights to issues leading to the American Revolution and the concerns of colonists about unlimited government power.SS24.6.17a

    2. b

      Explain the significance of Marbury v. Madison (1803) in establishing judicial review by the Supreme Court.SS24.6.17b

    3. c

      Identify constitutional amendments that expanded political rights for citizens and describe the efforts of citizens to secure these rights.SS24.6.17c

  • 18

    Analyze how an individual’s civic participation can influence government, politics, and society.SS24.6.18

    1. a

      Identify and describe ways citizens work together to influence the government and solve problems.SS24.6.18a

    2. b

      Differentiate between the requirements, responsibilities, and rights for citizenship in the United States.SS24.6.18b

    3. c

      Explain how an individual becomes a citizen of the United States, including birthright citizenship and naturalization, and identify moments in history in which citizenship has been extended to individuals not previously considered citizens.SS24.6.18c

Government in a New NationSS24.6.GNN

  • 19

    Analyze the election and presidency of George Washington for its impact on establishing the role of president in the United States, including the creation of the first Cabinet, establishment of the District of Columbia, commitment to religious freedom (Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport), and the two-term precedent.SS24.6.19

    1. a

      Formulate and defend a position on the use of federal authority by Washington and his administration in response to the Whiskey Rebellion.SS24.6.19a

    2. b

      Summarize the views Washington expressed in his Farewell Address regarding political factions, international relations, and civic virtue.SS24.6.19b

  • 20

    Trace the development of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican political parties in the 1790s, and describe the role of political parties in the American political system.SS24.6.20

    1. a

      Describe Alexander Hamilton’s economic plan for the new United States and explain how this became the foundation of capitalism in the country.SS24.6.20a

    2. b

      Compare the arguments for and against the establishment of the National Bank as represented by differing interpretations of the Constitution.SS24.6.20b

    3. c

      Compare Alexander Hamilton’s vision for an industrial United States to Thomas Jefferson’s agricultural vision.SS24.6.20c

    4. d

      Describe the significance of the Election of 1800 as setting the precedent for a peaceful transition of power and the electoral reform the election produced.SS24.6.20d

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 6
Where can I read the official document?
Social Studies (2024)

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