Subscribe

8th grade · Social Studies · Unit 8 of 8

From Independence to Reconstruction

Put the nation's and Maine's big moments in order

What your child practices

Ordering events in United States and Maine history from 1776 to 1877 (the founding, expansion, Maine statehood, the road to the Civil War, the war and Reconstruction) and working out how far apart they are.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: History 1 · major eras, turning points, events and timeframes in the history of Maine and the United States

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Anchor dates: Declaration of Independence 1776, Maine statehood 1820, Dred Scott 1857.
  2. Civil War 1861–1865, 15th Amendment 1870, Reconstruction ends 1877.
  3. To find years between two events, subtract the earlier year from the later one.

Example: How many years passed between Maine statehood and the start of the Civil War? Maine statehood: 1820. Civil War begins: 1861. 1861 − 1820 = 41. Answer: 41

From Independence to Reconstruction in Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 8 of 8 in 8th grade Social Studies, after Maine and the Nation.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Maine Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Why do historians call 1820 a turning point for Maine?

    • Maine joined Canada
    • Maine's capital moved to Augusta
    • Maine became its own state

  2. Question 2

    In what year did this happen? The 15th Amendment is ratified

    • 1868
    • 1842
    • 1851
    • 1870

  3. Question 3

    Which of these happened first?

    • Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin take office as President and Vice President
    • The Bill of Rights is ratified
    • The Civil War ends and the 13th Amendment is ratified
    • The Louisiana Purchase doubles the size of the country

  4. Question 4

    Reconstruction is the period after the Civil War, from 1865 to about…

    • 1900
    • 1877
    • 1820

  5. Question 5

    Which of these happened last?

    • The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect
    • The Louisiana Purchase doubles the size of the country
    • The Indian Removal Act is passed
    • The Mexican-American War begins

  6. Question 6

    How many years passed between the Declaration of Independence and Maine statehood?

    • 44
    • 34
    • 54

More 8th grade