Fifth grade students will continue the formal study of United States history, beginning with the Civil War and culminating with the present. Concepts in geography, government, and economics will interface with the study of history. By the end of 5th Grade, students will be able to:

• Explain the causes, major events, and consequences of the Civil War, and analyze the effects of Reconstruction

• Describe and/or explain life in America from the late 19th century to the present, including the U. S. involvement in various wars and conflicts, the Great Depression and the New Deal, the Cold War, and significant people and eventsbetween 1950 and the present

• Locate important places in the United States, both natural and man-made

• Explain the reasons for the impact of geography on the growth of the U. S.

• Explain the protection of citizens’ rights under the constitution, including the process for and history of amending the U. S. Constitution

• Use economic concepts of trade, opportunity cost, specialization, voluntary exchange, productivity, and price incentives to illustrate historical events