New Mexico State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 8

NM.I. History: Students are able to identify important people and events in order to analyze significant patterns, relationships, themes, ideas, beliefs, and turning points in New Mexico, United States, and world history in order to understand the complexity of the human experience.

I-A. New Mexico: Explore and explain how people and events have influenced the development of New Mexico up to the present day.

I-A.1a. Compare and contrast the settlement patterns of the American Southwest with other regions of the United States. 9
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-A.1a.

I-A.2a. Analyze New Mexico's role and impact on the outcome of the Civil War (e.g., strategic geographic location, significance of the Battle of Glorieta Pass, trade routes to California, native allegiances). 12
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-A.2a.

I-A.3a. Explain the role New Mexico played in the United States participation in the Spanish American War. 2
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-A.3a.

I-B. United States: Analyze and interpret major eras, events, and individuals from the periods of exploration and colonization through the Civil War and Reconstruction in United States history.

I-B.1a. Describe, evaluate, and interpret the economic and political reasons for the American Revolution, to include attempts to regulate colonial trade through passage of Tea Act, Stamp Act, and Intolerable Acts. 20
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.1a.

I-B.1b. Describe, evaluate, and interpret the economic and political reasons for the American Revolution, to include colonists' reaction to British policy (e.g., boycotts, the Sons of Liberty, petitions, appeals to Parliament). 8
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.1b.

I-B.1c. Describe, evaluate, and interpret the economic and political reasons for the American Revolution, to include the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence, including the Preamble. 5
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.1c.

I-B.2a. Describe the aspirations, ideals, and events that served as the foundation for the creation of a new national government, to include Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and the success of each in implementing the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. 7
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.2a.

I-B.2b. Describe the aspirations, ideals, and events that served as the foundation for the creation of a new national government, to include major debates of the Constitutional Convention and their resolution (e.g., The Federalist Papers). 10
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.2b.

I-B.2c. Describe the aspirations, ideals, and events that served as the foundation for the creation of a new national government, to include contributions and roles of major individuals in the writing and ratification of the Constitution (e.g., George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Jay). 6
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.2c.

I-B.2d. Describe the aspirations, ideals, and events that served as the foundation for the creation of a new national government, to include struggles over ratification of the Constitution and the creation of the Bill of Rights. 7
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.2d.

I-B.3a. Describe and explain the actions taken to build one nation from thirteen states, to include precedents established by George Washington (e.g., Cabinet, two-term presidency). 16
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.3a.

I-B.3b. Describe and explain the actions taken to build one nation from thirteen states, to include Alexander Hamilton's financial plan (e.g., the National Bank, payment of debts). 13
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.3b.

I-B.3c. Describe and explain the actions taken to build one nation from thirteen states, to include creation of political parties (Democratic Republicans and the Federalists). 19
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.3c.

I-B.4a. Describe the successes and failures of the reforms during the Age of Jackson, to include extension of franchise to all white men. 2
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.4a.

I-B.4b. Describe the successes and failures of the reforms during the Age of Jackson, to include Indian Removal, The Trail of Tears, The Long Walk. 13
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.4b.

I-B.4c. Describe the successes and failures of the reforms during the Age of Jackson, to include abolition movement (e.g., Quakers, Harriet Tubman, Underground Railroad). 40
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.4c.

I-B.5a. Describe, explain, and analyze the aims and impact of Western Expansion and the settlement of the United States, to include American belief in Manifest Destiny and how it led to the Mexican War and its consequences. 11
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.5a.

I-B.5b. Describe, explain, and analyze the aims and impact of Western Expansion and the settlement of the United States, to include compare African American and Native American slavery. 48
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.5b.

I-B.5c. Describe, explain, and analyze the aims and impact of Western Expansion and the settlement of the United States, to include westward migration of peoples (e.g., Oregon, California, Mormons, and Southwest). 7
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.5c.

I-B.5d. Describe, explain, and analyze the aims and impact of Western Expansion and the settlement of the United States, to include origins and early history of the Women's Movement. 12
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.5d.

I-B.6a. Explain how sectionalism led to the Civil War, to include different economies that developed in the North, South, and West. 24
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.6a.

I-B.6b. Explain how sectionalism led to the Civil War, to include addition of new states to the Union and the balance of power in the United States Senate (Missouri and 1850 Compromises). 16
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.6b.

I-B.6c. Explain how sectionalism led to the Civil War, to include extension of slavery into the territories (e.g., Dred Scott Decision, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Frederick Douglass, John Brown). 43
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.6c.

I-B.6d. Explain how sectionalism led to the Civil War, to include presidential election of 1860, Lincoln's victory, and the South's secession. 10
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.6d.

I-B.7a. Explain the course and consequences of the Civil War and how it divided people in the United States, to include contributions and significance of key figures (e.g., Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant). 18
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.7a.

I-B.7b. Explain the course and consequences of the Civil War and how it divided people in the United States, to include major turning points in the Civil War, including Gettysburg. 26
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.7b.

I-B.7c. Explain the course and consequences of the Civil War and how it divided people in the United States, to include unique nature of the Civil War (e.g., impact of Americans fighting Americans, high casualties caused by disease and type of warfare, widespread destruction of American property). 31
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.7c.

I-B.7d. Explain the course and consequences of the Civil War and how it divided people in the United States, to include role of African Americans; purpose and effect of the Emancipation Proclamation. 42
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.7d.

I-B.8a. Analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction, to include reconstruction plans. 12
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.8a.

I-B.8b. Analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction, to include impact of Lincoln's assassination and the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. 124
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.8b.

I-B.8c. Analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction, to include attempts to protect the rights and enhance the opportunities for freemen by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution. 15
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.8c.

I-B.8d. Analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction, to include post-Civil War segregation policies and their resulting impact on racial issues in the United States. 13
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-B.8d.

I-C. World: Compare and contrast major historical eras, events, and figures from ancient civilizations to the Age of Exploration.

I-C.1a. Describe and explain the significance of the Line of Demarcation on the colonization of the New World. 25
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-C.1a.

I-C.2a. Compare and contrast the influence of European countries (e.g., England, France, Holland) on the development of colonies in the New World. 13
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-C.2a.

I-C.3a. Describe and explain the impact the American Revolution on France and the French Revolution. 14
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-C.3a.

I-D. Skills: Research historical events and people from a variety of perspectives.

I-D.1a. Understand and apply the problem-solving skills for historical research, to include use of primary and secondary sources. 39
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-D.1a.

I-D.1b. Understand and apply the problem-solving skills for historical research, to include sequencing. 51
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-D.1b.

I-D.1c. Understand and apply the problem-solving skills for historical research, to include posing questions to be answered by historical inquiry. 16
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-D.1c.

I-D.1d. Understand and apply the problem-solving skills for historical research, to include collecting, interpreting, and applying information. 16
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-D.1d.

I-D.1e. Understand and apply the problem-solving skills for historical research, to include gathering and validating materials that present a variety of perspectives. 34
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard I-D.1e.

NM.II. Geography: Students understand how physical, natural, and cultural processes influence where people live, the ways in which people live, and how societies interact with one another and their environments.

II-A. Analyze and evaluate the characteristics and purposes of geographic tools, knowledge, skills and perspectives and apply them to explain the past, present, and future in terms of patterns, events, and issues.

II-A.1a. Describe patterns and processes of migration and diffusion. 11
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-A.1a.

II-A.2a. Provide a historic overview of patterns of population expansion into the West by the many diverse groups of people (e.g., Native Americans, European Americans, and others) to include movement into the Southwest along established settlement, trade, and rail routes. 38
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-A.2a.

II-B. Explain the physical and human characteristics of places and use this knowledge to define regions, their relationships with other regions, and their patterns of change.

II-B.1a. Describe how individual and cultural characteristics affect perceptions of locales and regions. 5
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-B.1a.

II-B.2a. Describe political, population, and economic regions that result from patterns of human activity, using New Mexico as an example. 6
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-B.2a.

II-C. Understand how human behavior impacts man-made and natural environments, recognizes past and present results, and predicts potential changes.

II-C.1a. Explain and evaluate how changing perceptions of place and the natural environment have affected human behavior. 1
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-C.1a.

II-D. Explain how physical processes shape the Earth's surface patterns and biosystems.

II-D.1a. Explain how human activities and physical processes influence change in ecosystems. 63
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-D.1a.

II-E. Understand how economic, political, cultural, and social processes interact to shape patterns of human populations, and their interdependence, cooperation, and conflict.

II-E.1a. Explain and describe how movement of people impacted and shaped western settlement of the United States (e.g., growth of towns and cities, affect upon native populations, railroads, livestock). 15
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-E.1a.

II-F. Understand the effects of interactions between human and natural systems in terms of changes in meaning, use, distribution, and relative importance of resources.

II-F.1a. Describe the differing viewpoints that individuals and groups have with respect to the use of resources. 66
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard II-F.1a.

NM.III. Civics and Government: Students understand the ideals, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship and understand the content and history of the founding documents of the United States with particular emphasis on the United States and New Mexico constitutions and how governments function at local, state, tribal, and national levels.

III-A. Understand the structure, functions, and powers of government (local, state, tribal and national).

III-A.1a. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include the federal system dividing sovereignty between the states and the federal government, and their supporting bureaucracies. 27
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1a.

III-A.1b. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include the sovereignty of Native American tribes in relation to state and federal governments (and government to government relationships). 11
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1b.

III-A.1c. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include the Bill of Rights, amendments to Constitution. 22
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1c.

III-A.1d. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include the primacy of individual liberty. 20
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1d.

III-A.1e. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include the Constitution is designed to secure our liberty by both empowering and limiting central government; struggles over the creation of the Bill of Rights and its ratification. 9
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1e.

III-A.1f. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include separation of powers through the development of differing branches. 20
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1f.

III-A.1g. Explain the structure and functions of the national government as expressed in the United States Constitution, and explain the powers granted to the three branches of government and those reserved to the people, states, and tribes, to include John Marshall's role in judicial review, including Marbury v. Madison. 7
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.1g.

III-A.2a. Identify and describe a citizen's fundamental constitutional rights, to include freedom of religion, expression, assembly, and press. 12
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.2a.

III-A.2b. Identify and describe a citizen's fundamental constitutional rights, to include right to a fair trial; equal protection and due process. 6
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.2b.

III-A.3a. Describe the contributions of Native Americans in providing a model that was utilized in forming the United States government (Iroquois Nation). 6
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.3a.

III-A.4a. Explain and describe how water rights and energy issues cross state and national boundaries. 16
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-A.4a.

III-B. Explain the significance of symbols, icons, songs, traditions, and leaders of New Mexico and the United States that exemplify ideals and provide continuity and a sense of unity.

III-B.1a. Explain how the development of symbols, songs, traditions, and concepts of leadership reflect American beliefs and principles. 3
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-B.1a.

III-B.2a. Explain the importance of point of view and its relationship to freedom of speech and press. 29
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-B.2a.

III-C. Compare political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government.

III-C.1a. Describe political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government, to include ideas of the nature of government and rights of the individuals expressed in the Declaration of Independence with its roots in English philosophers (e.g., John Locke). 4
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.1a.

III-C.1b. Describe political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government, to include concept of limited government and the rule of law established in the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. 5
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.1b.

III-C.1c. Describe political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government, to include social covenant established in the Mayflower Compact.

III-C.1d. Describe political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government, to include characteristics of representative governments. 12
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.1d.

III-C.1e. Describe political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government, to include Anti-Federalist and Federalist arguments towards the new Constitution, including those expressed in The Federalist Papers. 7
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.1e.

III-C.1f. Describe political philosophies and concepts of government that became the foundation for the American Revolution and the United States government, to include concepts of federalism, democracy, bicameralism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. 10
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.1f.

III-C.2a. Explain the concept and practice of separation of powers among the Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court. 22
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.2a.

III-C.3a. Understand the fundamental principles of American constitutional democracy, including how the government derives its power from the people. 9
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-C.3a.

III-D. Explain how individuals have rights and responsibilities as members of social groups, families, schools, communities, states, tribes, and countries. 8
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-D.

III-D.1a. Explain basic law-making processes and how the design of the United States Constitution provides numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process and to monitor and influence government (e.g., elections, political parties, interest groups). 17
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-D.1a.

III-D.2a. Understand the multiplicity and complexity of human rights issues. 6
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard III-D.2a.

NM.IV. Economics:: Students understand basic economic principles and use economic reasoning skills to analyze the impact of economic systems (including the market economy) on individuals, families, businesses, communities, and governments.

IV-A. Explain and describe how individuals, households, businesses, governments, and societies make decisions, are influenced by incentives (economic as well as intrinsic) and the availability and use of scarce resources, and that their choices involve costs and varying ways of allocating.

IV-A.1a. Explain and provide examples of economic goals. 13
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-A.1a.

IV-A.2a. Analyze the full costs and benefits of alternative uses of resources that will lead to productive use of resources today and in the future. 14
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-A.2a.

IV-A.3a. Explain that tension between individuals, groups, and/or countries is often based upon differential access to resources. 14
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-A.3a.

IV-B. Explain how economic systems impact the way individuals, households, businesses, governments and societies make decisions about resources and the production and distribution of goods and services.

IV-B.1a. Describe the relationships among supply, demand, and price and their roles in the United States market system. 3
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-B.1a.

IV-B.2a. Identify how fundamental characteristics of the United States' economic system influence economic decision making (e.g., private property, profits, competition) at local, state, tribal, and national levels. 27
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-B.2a.

IV-B.3a. Explain changing economic activities in the United States and New Mexico and the role of technology in those changes. 10
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-B.3a.

IV-B.4a. Identify situations in which price and value diverge. 9
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-B.4a.

IV-B.5a. Describe the use of money over time (e.g., college funds beginning in elementary years, saving accounts, 401Ks). 8
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-B.5a.

IV-C. Describe the patterns of trade and exchange in early societies and civilizations and explore the extent of their continuation in today's world.

IV-C.1a. Understand why various sections of the early United States developed different patterns of economic activity and explore why and to what extent those differences remain today. 24
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.1a.

IV-C.2a. Understand how various economic forces resulted in the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. 8
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.2a.

IV-C.3a. Explain how economic interdependence between countries around the world can improve the standard of living. 12
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.3a.

IV-C.4a. Explain the rise of the credit system and how the use of credit involves the use of someone else's money at a certain interest rate, and explore the social impact of credit, pro and con. 7
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.4a.

IV-C.5a. Explain the exchange rate as the price of a nation's currency. 9
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.5a.

IV-C.6a. Describe the role of technology in economic development, historically and in the contemporary world. 21
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.6a.

IV-C.7a. Describe how cost benefits are determined by individuals, groups, societies, and nations in capitalist systems. 1
Suggested Titles for New Mexico Social Studies State Standard IV-C.7a.