Michigan State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 8

MI.I.1. Historical Perspective: All students will sequence chronologically the following eras of American history and key events within these eras in order to examine relationships and to explain cause and effect: The Meeting of Three Worlds (beginnings to 1620); Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763); Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1815); Expansion and Reform (1801-1861); and Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877); The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900); The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930); The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945); Post War United States (1945-1970); and Contemporary United States (1968-present). (Time and Chronology).

I.1.1. Construct and interpret timelines of people and events from the history of Michigan and the United States through the era of Reconstruction and from the history of other regions of the world. 25
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.1.1.

I.1.2. Describe major factors that characterize the following eras in United States history: The Meeting of Three Worlds (beginnings to 1620), Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763), Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1815), Expansion and Reform (1801-1861) and Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877). 88
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.1.2.

I.1.3. Select a contemporary condition in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe and Latin America and trace some of the major historical origins of each. 8
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.1.3.

MI.I.2. Historical Perspective: All students will understand narratives about major eras of American and world history by identifying the people involved, describing the setting, and sequencing the events. (Comprehending the Past)

I.2.1. Use narratives and graphic data to describe the settings of significant events that shaped the development of Michigan as a state and the United States as a nation during the eras prior to Reconstruction. 14
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.2.1.

I.2.2. Identify and explain how individuals in history demonstrated good character and personal virtue. 6
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.2.2.

I.2.3. Select conditions in various parts of the world and describe how they have been shaped by events from the past. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.2.3.

I.2.4. Use historical biographies to explain how events from the past affected the lives of individuals and how some individuals influenced the course of history. 830
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.2.4.

MI.I.3. Historical Perspective: All students will reconstruct the past by comparing interpretations written by others from a variety of perspectives and creating narratives from evidence. (Analyzing and Interpreting the Past)

I.3.1. Use primary and secondary records to analyze significant events that shaped the development of Michigan as a state and the United States as a nation prior to the end of the era of Reconstruction. 37
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.3.1.

I.3.2. Analyze interpretations of major events selected from African, Asian, Canadian, European and Latin American history to reveal the perspectives of the authors. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.3.2.

I.3.3. Show that historical knowledge is tentative and subject to change by describing interpretations of the past that have been revised when new information was uncovered. 17
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.3.3.

I.3.4. Compose narratives of events from the history of Michigan and of the United States prior to the era of Reconstruction. 12
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.3.4.

MI.I.4. Historical Perspective: All students will evaluate key decisions made at critical turning points in history by assessing their implications and long-term consequences. (Judging Decisions from the Past)

I.4.1. Identify major decisions in Michigan and the United States history prior to the end of the era of Reconstruction, analyze contemporary factors contributing to the decisions and consider alternative courses of action. 31
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.4.1.

I.4.2. Identify major decisions in the history of Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe and Latin America, analyze contemporary factors contributing to the decisions and consider alternative courses of action. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.4.2.

I.4.3. Identify the responses of individuals to historic violations of human dignity involving discrimination, persecution and crimes against humanity. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.4.3.

I.4.4. Select historic decisions and evaluate them in light of core democratic values and resulting costs and benefits as viewed from a variety of perspectives. 41
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard I.4.4.

MI.II.1. Geographic Perspective: All students will describe, compare, and explain the locations and characteristics of places, cultures, and settlements. (People, Places and Cultures)

II.1.1. Locate and describe the diverse places, cultures, and communities of major world regions. 1
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.1.1.

II.1.2. Describe and compare characteristics of major world cultures including language, religion, belief systems, gender roles, and traditions. 1
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.1.2.

II.1.3. Explain why people live and work as they do in different regions. 14
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.1.3.

MI.II.2. Geographic Perspective: All students will describe, compare, and explain the locations and characteristics of ecosystems, resources, human adaptation, environmental impact, and the interrelationships among them. (Human/Environment Interaction)

II.2.1. Locate, describe, and compare the ecosystems, resources, and human environment interactions of major world regions. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.2.1.

II.2.2. Locate major ecosystems, describe their characteristics, and explain the process that created them. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.2.2.

II.2.3. Explain the importance of different kinds of ecosystems to people. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.2.3.

II.2.4. Explain how humans modify the environment and describe some of the possible consequences of those modifications. 60
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.2.4.

II.2.5. Describe the consequences of human/environment interactions in several different types of environment. 60
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.2.5.

MI.II.3. Geographic Perspective: All students will describe, compare, and explain the locations and characteristics of economic activities, trade, political activities, migration, information flow, and the interrelationships among them. (Location, Movement and Connections)

II.3.1. Locate and describe major economic activities and occupations of major world regions and explain the reasons for their locations. 41
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.3.1.

II.3.2. Explain how governments have divided land and sea areas into different regions. 6
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.3.2.

II.3.3. Describe how and why people, goods and services, and information move within world regions and between regions. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.3.3.

II.3.4. Describe the major economic and political connections between the United States and different world regions and explain their causes and consequences. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.3.4.

MI.II.4. Geographic Perspective: All students will describe and compare characteristics of ecosystems, states, regions, countries, major world regions, and patterns and explain the processes that created them. (Regions, Patterns and Processes)

II.4.1. Draw a sketch map of the world from memory. 12
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.4.1.

II.4.2. Locate and describe major cultural, economic, political and environmental features of Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America and the processes that created them. 24
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.4.2.

II.4.3. Describe major patterns of world population, physical features, ecosystems, cultures and explain some of the factors causing the patterns. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.4.3.

II.4.4. Compare major world regions with respect to cultures, economy, governmental systems, environment, and communications. 184
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.4.4.

MI.II.5. Geographic Perspective: All students will describe and explain the causes, consequences, and geographic context of major global issues and events. (Global Issues and Events)

II.5.1. Describe how social and scientific changes in regions may have global consequences. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.5.1.

II.5.2. Describe the geographic aspects of events taking place in different world regions. 17
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.5.2.

II.5.3. Explain how elements of the physical geography, culture, and history of the region may be influencing current events. 6
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard II.5.3.

MI.III.1. Civic Perspective: All students will identify the purposes of national, state, and local governments in the United States, describe how citizens organize government to accomplish their purposes, and assess their effectiveness. (Purposes of Government)

III.1.1. Describe how the federal government in the United States serves the purposes set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.1.1.

III.1.2. Distinguish between representative democracy in the United States and other forms of government. 32
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.1.2.

III.1.3. Explain how the rule of law protects individual rights and serves the common good. 20
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.1.3.

III.1.4. Explain the importance of limited government to protect political and economic freedom. 7
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.1.4.

MI.III.2. Civic Perspective: All students will explain the meaning and origin of the ideas, including the core democratic values expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other foundational documents of the United States. (Ideals of American Democracy)

III.2.1. Identify the essential ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the origins of those ideas, and explain how they set the foundation for civic life, politics and government in the United States. 9
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.2.1.

III.2.2. Describe provisions of the U.S. Constitution which delegate to government the powers necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was established. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.2.2.

III.2.3. Explain means for limiting the powers of government established by the U.S. Constitution. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.2.3.

MI.III.3. Civic Perspective: All students will describe the political and legal processes created to make decisions, seek consensus and resolve conflicts in a free society. (Democracy in Action)

III.3.1. Distinguish between civil and criminal procedure. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.3.1.

III.3.2. Identify disparities between American ideals and realities and propose ways to reduce them. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.3.2.

MI.III.4. Civic Perspective: All students will explain how American governmental institutions, at the local, state, and federal levels, provide for the limitation and sharing of power and how the nation's political system provides for the exercise of power. (American Government and Politics)

III.4.1. Evaluate information and arguments from various sources in order to evaluate candidates for public office. 18
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.4.1.

III.4.2. Explain how the Constitution is maintained as the supreme law of the land. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.4.2.

MI.III.5. Civic Perspective: All students will understand how the world is organized politically, the formation of American foreign policy and the roles the United States plays in the international arena. (American Government and World Affairs)

III.5.1. Describe the purposes and functions of major international, governmental organizations. 15
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.5.1.

III.5.2. Describe means used by the United States to resolve international conflicts. 25
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard III.5.2.

MI.IV.1. Economic Perspective: All students will describe and demonstrate how the economic forces of scarcity and choice affect the management of personal financial resources, shape consumer decisions regarding the purchase, use, and disposal of goods and services and affect the economic well-being of individuals and society. (Individual and Household Choices)

IV.1.1. Use economic reasoning when comparing price, quality and features of goods and services. 17
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.1.1.

IV.1.2. Evaluate employment and career opportunities in light of economic trends. 14
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.1.2.

IV.1.3. Analyze the reliability of information when making economic decisions. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.1.3.

MI.IV.2. Economic Perspective: All students will explain and demonstrate how businesses confront scarcity and choice when organizing, producing, and using resources, and when supplying the marketplace. (Business Choices)

IV.2.1. Using a real example, describe how business practices, profit, and a willingness to take risks, enabled an entrepreneur to operate. 16
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.2.1.

IV.2.2. Compare various methods for the production and distribution of goods and services. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.2.2.

IV.2.3. Describe the effects of a current public policy on businesses. 15
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.2.3.

IV.2.4. Examine the historical and contemporary role an industry has played and continues to play in a community. 23
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.2.4.

MI.IV.3. Economic Perspective: All students will describe how government decisions on taxation, spending, public goods, and regulation impact what is produced, how it is produced, and who receives the benefits of production. (Role of Government)

IV.3.1. Distinguish between public and private goods using contemporary examples. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.3.1.

IV.3.2. Identify and describe different forms of economic measurement. 6
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.3.2.

IV.3.3. Use case studies to assess the role of government in the economy. 40
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.3.3.

IV.3.4. Distinguish different forms of taxation and describe their effects. 1
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.3.4.

MI.IV.4. Economic Perspective: All students will explain how a free market economic system works, as well as other economic systems, to coordinate and facilitate the exchange, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. (Economic Systems)

IV.4.1. Compare the historical record of market economies in solving the problem of scarcity. 6
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.4.1.

IV.4.2. Describe the roles of the various economic institutions which comprise the American economic system such as governments, business firms, labor unions, banks, and households. 28
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.4.2.

IV.4.3. Use case studies to exemplify how supply and demand, prices, incentives, and profits determine what is produced and distributed in the American economy. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.4.3.

IV.4.4. Analyze how purchasers obtain information about goods and services from advertising and other sources. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.4.4.

MI.IV.5. Economic Perspective: All students will describe how trade generates economic development and interdependence and analyze the resulting challenges and benefits for individuals, producers, and government. (Trade)

IV.5.1. Identify the current and potential contributions of national and world regions to trade. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.5.1.

IV.5.2. Examine the role of the United States government in regulating commerce as stated in the United States Constitution. 5
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.5.2.

IV.5.3. Describe the historical development of the different means of payment such as barter, precious metals, or currency to facilitate exchange. 2
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard IV.5.3.

MI.V.1. Inquiry: All students will acquire information from books, maps, newspapers, data sets and other sources, organize and present the information in maps, graphs, charts and timelines, interpret the meaning and significance of information, and use a variety of electronic technologies to assist in accessing and managing information. (Information Processing)

V.1.1. Locate and interpret information about the natural environments and cultures of countries using a variety of primary and secondary sources and electronic technologies, including computers and telecommunications where appropriate. 9
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.1.1.

V.1.2. Use traditional and electronic means to organize social science information and to make maps, graphs, and tables. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.1.2.

V.1.3. Interpret social science information about the natural environment and cultures of countries from a variety of primary and secondary sources. 184
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.1.3.

MI.V.2. Inquiry: All students will conduct investigations by formulating a clear statement of a question, gathering and organizing information from a variety of sources, analyzing and interpreting information, formulating and testing hypotheses, reporting results both orally and in writing, and making use of appropriate technology. (Conducting Investigations)

V.2.1. Pose a social science question about Michigan or the United States. 3
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.2.1.

V.2.2. Gather and analyze information using appropriate information technologies to answer the question posed. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.2.2.

V.2.3. Construct an answer to the question posed and support their answer with evidence. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.2.3.

V.2.4. Report the results of their investigation including procedures followed and possible alternative conclusions. 11
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard V.2.4.

MI.VI.1. Public Discourse and Decision Making: All students will state an issue clearly as a question of public policy, trace the origins of the issue, analyze various perspectives people bring to the issue and evaluate possible ways to resolve the issue. (Identifying and Analyzing Issues)

VI.1.1. State public policy issues and their related ethical, definitional, and factual issues as questions. 9
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VI.1.1.

VI.1.2. Trace the origins of a public issue. 9
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VI.1.2.

VI.1.3. Explain how culture and experiences shape positions that people take on an issue. 9
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VI.1.3.

MI.VI.2. Public Discourse and Decision Making: All students will engage their peers in constructive conversation about matters of public concern by clarifying issues, considering opposing views, applying democratic values, anticipating consequences, and working toward making decisions. (Group Discussion)

VI.2.1. Engage each other in conversations which attempt to clarify and resolve national and international policy issues. 9
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VI.2.1.

MI.VI.3. Public Discourse and Decision Making: All students will compose coherent written essays that express a position on a public issue and justify the position with reasoned arguments. (Persuasive Writing)

VI.3.1. Compose essays expressing decisions on national and international policy issues. 16
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VI.3.1.

MI.VII.1. Citizen Involvement: All students will consider the effects of an individual's actions on other people, how one acts in accordance with the rule of law, and how one acts in a virtuous and ethically responsible way as a member of society. (Responsible Personal Conduct)

VII.1.1. Use laws and other ethical rules to evaluate their own conduct and the conduct of others. 20
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VII.1.1.

VII.1.2. Engage in activities intended to contribute to solving a national or international problem they have studied. 6
Suggested Titles for Michigan Social Studies State Standard VII.1.2.