Eighth grade
history covers several decades and events.
Eighth grade students begin learning more about the history of the United States. Their education will cover the early period of settlement in America as well as the cultures native to the land. Your students can write a variety of essays with the new topics they learn in eighth grade history class.
Westward Expansion
"Manifest Destiny" is the term the early European settlers used in reference to westward expansion. The term implies that it was the divine right of the settlers to expand their boarders west towards the Pacific Ocean. Have your students write an essay about the westward expansion, providing a detailed timeline as well as some of the difficulties settlers faced as they tried to settle in new territories.
Native Civilizations
It can be an eye-opening experience for an eighth grader to learn about the native tribes that lived in America before the time of the European settlers. Have the children choose a native tribe to focus on and write an essay detailing the way of life for that particular tribe. The essay should cover topics such as geographic location, housing choices, their food gathering methods, trading practices, domestication habits and their relations with other tribes.
Slavery
Have your students review documents and personal stories from the time of slavery. Based on the information they accrue through reading, have them write an essay about the social atmosphere at the time. Ask them to explain how seemingly decent people justified slavery and why the injustice lasted so long. Challenge them to come up with ways people could have abolished slavery sooner.
Revolutionary War
Students may know the significance of the revolutionary war, but it is also important for them to understand the reasons behind the conflict. Ask your students to research the years before the war to discover the reasons for unrest in the colonies. Have them write an essay that outlines the treatment of American settlers by the British Empire as well as some of the most iconic moments -- such as the Boston Massacre -- leading up to the declaration of war.
Tags: write essay, Eighth grade, essay about, European settlers, grade history