8.15 SS Government. The student understands the American beliefs and principles reflected in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and other important historic documents. The student is expected to:

8.15(A) SS identify the influence of ideas from historic documents, including the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, and the Federalist Papers, on the U.S. system of government;

8.15(B) SS summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation;

8.15(C) SS identify colonial grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence and explain how those grievances were addressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights;

8.15(D) SS analyze how the U.S. Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights; and

8.15(E) SS explain the role of significant individuals such as Thomas Hooker, Charles de Montesquieu, and John Locke in the development of self-government in colonial America.

8.17 SS Government. The student understands the dynamic nature of the powers of the national government and state governments in a federal system. The student is expected to:

8.17(A) SS analyze the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, including those of Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, James Madison, and George Mason; and

8.17(B) SS explain constitutional issues arising over the issue of states' rights, including the Nullification Crisis and the Civil War.