Pennsylvania State Standards
for Social Studies for Grades 9 and 12
8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
A. Analyze chronological thinking.
B. Analyze and interpret historical sources.
C. Analyze the fundamentals of historical interpretation.
D. Analyze and interpret historical research.
8.2 Pennsylvania History
A. Analyze the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to Pennsylvania history from 1787 to 1914.
B. Identify and analyze primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important to Pennsylvania history from 1787 to 1914.
C. Identify and analyze how continuity and change have influenced Pennsylvania history from 1787 to 1914.
D. Identify and analyze conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations in Pennsylvania history from 1787 to 1914.
8.3 United States History
A. Identify and analyze the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to United States history from 1787 to 1914.
B. Identify and analyze primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in United States history from 1787 to 1914.
C. Analyze how continuity and change has influenced United States history from 1787 to 1914.
D. Identify and analyze conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations in United States history from 1787 to 1914.
8.4 World History
A. Analyze the significance of individuals and groups who made major political and cultural contributions to world history before 1500 CE.
B. Analyze historical documents, material artifacts and historic sites important to world history before 1500 CE.
C. Analyze how continuity and change throughout history has impacted belief systems and religions, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social organization, transportation and roles of women before 1500 CE.
D. Analyze how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations impacted world history through 1500 CE in Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe.
7.1 Basic Geographic Literacy
A. Explain geographic tools and their uses.
B. Explain and locate places and regions.
7.2 The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions
A. Explain the physical characteristics of places and regions, including spatial patterns of Earth’s physical systems.
B. Explain the dynamics of the fundamental processes that underlie the operation of Earth’s physical systems.
7.3 The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions
A. Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their population characteristics.
B. Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their cultural characteristics.
C. Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their settlement characteristics.
D. Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their economic activities.
E. Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their political activities.
7.4 The Interactions Between People and Places
A. Explain the impacts of physical systems on people.
B. Explain the impacts of people on physical systems.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
A. Identify and explain the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.
B. Describe historical examples of the importance of the rule of law.
C. Analyze the principles and ideals that shape government.
D. Interpret significant changes in the basic documents shaping the government of Pennsylvania.
E. Analyze the basic documents shaping the government of the United States.
F. Contrast the individual rights created by the Pennsylvania Constitution and those created by the Constitution of the United States.
G. Describe the procedures for proper uses, display and respect for the United States Flag as per the National Flag Code.
H. Explain and interpret the roles of framers of basic documents of government from a national and Pennsylvania perspective.
I. Explain the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments and explain the advantages and disadvantages of systems of government.
J. Explain how law protects individual rights and the common good.
K. Explain why symbols and holidays were created and the ideals they commemorate.
L. Interpret Pennsylvania and United States court decisions that have impacted the principles and ideals of government.
M. Interpret the impact of famous speeches and writings on civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
A. Contrast the essential rights and responsibilities of citizens in systems of government.
B. Analyze citizens’ rights and responsibilities in local, state and national government.
C. Analyze skills used to resolve conflicts in society and government.
D. Analyze political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.
E. Explain the importance of the political process to competent and responsible participation in civic life.
F. Analyze the consequences of violating laws of Pennsylvania compared to those of the United States.
G. Analyze political and civic participation in government and society.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Explain the structure, organization and operation of the local, state and national governments, including domestic and national policy-making.
B. Compare the responsibilities and powers of the three branches within the national government.
C. Explain how a bill becomes a law on a federal, state and local level.
D. Explain how independent government agencies create, amend and enforce regulatory policies.
E. Explain how citizens participate in choosing their leaders through political parties, campaigns and elections.
F. Explain the election process.
G. Explain how the government protects individual rights.
H. Analyze how interest groups provide opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process.
I. Analyze how and why the government raises money to pay for its operation and services.
J. Analyze the importance of freedom of the press.
K. Identify and explain systems of government.
5.4 How International Relationships Function
A. Explain how the United States is affected by policies of nation-states, governmental and non-governmental organizations.
B. Explain the role of the United States in world affairs.
C. Explain the effects the United States’ political ideas have had on other nations.
D. Contrast how the three branches of the federal government function in foreign policy.
E. Explain the development and role of the United Nations and other international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental.
6.1 Economic Systems
A. Analyze the similarities and differences in economic systems.
B. Explain how traditional, command and market economies answer the basic economic questions.
C. Explain how economic indicators reflect changes in the economy.
D. Describe the historical examples of expansion, recession and depression in the United States.
6.2 Markets and the Functions of Governments
A. Explain the flow of goods, services and resources in a mixed economy.
B. Analyze how the number of consumers and producers affects the level of competition within a market.
C. Explain the structure and purpose of the Federal Reserve System.
D. Analyze the functions of economic institutions (e.g., corporations, not-for-profit institutions).
E. Explain the laws of supply and demand and how these affect the prices of goods and services.
F. Analyze how competition among producers and consumers affects price, costs, product quality, service, product design, variety and advertising.
G. Contrast the largest sources of tax revenue with where most tax revenue is spent in Pennsylvania.
H. Analyze the economic roles of governments in market economies.
I. Explain how government provides public goods.
J. Contrast the taxation policies of the local, state and national governments in the economy.
K. Interpret how media reports can influence perceptions of the costs and benefits of decisions.
L. Explain how the price of one currency is related to the price of another currency (e.g., Japanese yen vs. American dollar, Canadian dollar vs. Mexican nuevo peso).
6.3 Scarcity and Choice
A. Describe ways to deal with scarcity.
B. Analyze how unlimited wants and limited resources affect decision-making.
C. Explain how resources can be used in different ways to produce different goods and services.
D. Explain marginal analysis and decision-making.
E. Explain the opportunity cost of a public choice from different perspectives.
F. Explain how incentives affect the behaviors of workers, savers, consumers and producers.
6.4 Economic Interdependence
A. Explain why specialization may lead to increased production and consumption.
B. Explain how trade may improve a society’s standard of living.
C. Explain why governments sometimes restrict or subsidize trade.
D. Explain how the locations of resources, transportation and communication networks and technology have affected the United States’ economic patterns.
E. Analyze how Pennsylvania consumers and producers participate in the global production and consumption of goods and services.
F. Explain how opportunity cost can be used to determine the product for which a nation has a comparative advantage.
G. Describe geographic patterns of economic activities in the United States.
6.5 Work and Earnings
A. Define wages and explain how wages are determined by the supply and demand of workers.
B. Describe how productivity is measured and identify ways in which a person can improve his or her productivity.
C. Identify and explain the characteristics of the three types of businesses.
D. Analyze how risks influence business decision-making.
E. Define wealth and describe its distribution within and among the political divisions of the United States.
F. Identify leading entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania and the United States and describe the risks they took and the rewards they received.
G. Explain the differences among stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
H. Explain the impact of higher or lower interest rates for savers, borrowers, consumers and producers.
8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
A. Evaluate chronological thinking.
B. Synthesize and evaluate historical sources.
C. Evaluate historical interpretation of events.
D. Synthesize historical research.
8.2 Pennsylvania History
A. Evaluate the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to Pennsylvania history from 1890 to Present.
B. Identify and evaluate primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in Pennsylvania history from 1890 to Present.
C. Identify and evaluate how continuity and change have influenced Pennsylvania history from the 1890s to Present.
D. Identify and evaluate conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations in Pennsylvania history from 1890 to Present.
8.3 United States History
A. Identify and evaluate the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to United States history from 1890 to Present.
B. Identify and evaluate primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in United States history from 1890 to Present.
C. Evaluate how continuity and change has influenced United States history from 1890 to Present.
D. Identify and evaluate conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations in United States history from 1890 to Present.
8.4 World History
A. Evaluate the significance of individuals and groups who made major political and cultural contributions to world history since 1450 CE.
B. Evaluate historical documents, material artifacts and historic sites important to world history since 1450 CE.
C. Evaluate how continuity and change throughout history have impacted belief systems and religions, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social organization, transportation and the roles of women since 1450 CE.
D. Evaluate how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations have impacted world history from 1450 CE to Present in Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe.
7.1 Basic Geographic Literacy
A. Analyze data and issues from a spatial perspective using the appropriate geographic tools.
B. Analyze the location of places and regions.
7.2 The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions
A. Analyze the physical characteristics of places and regions, including the interrelationships among the components of Earth’s physical systems.
B. Analyze the significance of physical processes in shaping the character of places and regions.
7.3 The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions
A. Analyze the significance of human activity in shaping places and regions by their population characteristics.
B. Analyze the significance of human activity in shaping places and regions by their cultural characteristics.
C. Analyze the significance of human activity in shaping places and regions by their settlement characteristics.
D. Analyze the significance of human activity in shaping places and regions by their economic characteristics.
E. Analyze the significance of human activity in shaping places and regions by their political characteristics.
7.4 The Interactions Between People and Places
A. Analyze the impacts of physical systems on people.
B. Analyze the impacts of people on physical systems.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
A. Evaluate the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.
B. Analyze the sources, purposes and functions of law.
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
D. Analyze the principles and ideals that shape the government of Pennsylvania and apply them to the government.
E. Evaluate the principles and ideals that shape the United States and compare them to documents of government.
F. Analyze and assess the rights of the people as listed in the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Constitution of the United States.
G. Analyze and interpret the role of the United States Flag in civil disobedience and patriotic activities.
H. Analyze the competing positions held by the framers of basic documents of government of Pennsylvania and the United States.
I. Analyze historical examples of the importance of the rule of law explaining the sources, purposes and functions of law.
J. Analyze how the law promotes the common good and protects individual rights.
K. Analyze the roles of symbols and holidays in society.
L. Analyze Pennsylvania and United States court decisions that have affected principles and ideals of government in civic life.
M. Evaluate and analyze the importance of significant political speeches and writings in civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
A. Evaluate an individual’s civic rights, responsibilities and duties in various governments.
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
C. Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts.
D. Evaluate political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
F. Evaluate how individual rights may conflict with or support the common good.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
B. Analyze the responsibilities and powers of the national government.
C. Evaluate the process of how a bill becomes law on federal, state, and local levels.
D. Evaluate how independent government agencies create, amend and enforce regulations.
E. Evaluate the roles of political parties in election campaigns.
F. Evaluate the elements of the election process.
G. Evaluate how the government protects or curtails individual rights, and analyze the impact of supporting or opposing those rights.
H. Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process.
I. Evaluate how and why government raises money to pay for its operations and services.
J. Evaluate the role of the media in political life in the United States, and explain the role of the media in setting the public agenda.
K. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various systems of government.
5.4 How International Relationships Function
A. Analyze the impact of international economic, technological and cultural developments on the government of the United States.
B. Analyze the United States’ interaction with other nations and governmental groups in world events.
C. Compare how past and present United States policy interests have changed over time, and analyze the impact on future international relationships.
D. Explain how foreign policy is developed and implemented.
E. Compare the purposes and functions of international organizations.
6.1 Economic Systems
A. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of traditional, command and market economics.
B. Analyze the impact of traditional, command and market economies on the United States economy.
C. Assess the strength of the regional, national and/or international economy, and compare it to another time period, based upon economic indicators.
D. Describe historical examples of expansion, recession and depression internationally.
6.2 Markets and the Functions of Governments
A. Analyze the flow of products, resources and money in a mixed economy.
B. Evaluate the operation of non-competitive markets.
C. Analyze policies designed to raise or lower interest rates and how the Federal Reserve Board influences interest rates.
D. Evaluate changes in economic institutions over time (e.g., stock markets, non-government organizations).
E. Predict how changes in supply and demand affect equilibrium price and quantity sold.
F. Identify and analyze forces that can change price.
G. Evaluate types of tax systems.
H. Evaluate the economic roles of governments.
I. Evaluate government decisions to provide public goods.
J. Evaluate the social, political and economic changes in tax policy using cost/benefit analysis.
K. Analyze the impact of the media on decision-making of consumers, producers and policymakers.
L. Analyze how policies and international events may change exchange rates.
6.3 Scarcity and Choice
A. Analyze actions taken as a result of scarcity issues in the regional, national and international economies.
B. Evaluate the economic reasoning behind a choice.
C. Evaluate the allocation of resources used to produce goods and services.
D. Evaluate regional, national or international economic decisions using marginal analysis.
E. Analyze the opportunity cost of decisions by individuals, businesses, communities and nations.
F. Evaluate in terms of marginal analysis how incentives influence decisions of consumers, producers and policymakers.
6.4 Economic Interdependence
A. Analyze how specialization may increase the standard of living.
B. Analyze the relationships between trade, competition and productivity.
C. Evaluate how a nation might benefit by lowering or removing trade barriers.
D. Explain how the locations of resources, transportation and communication networks and technology have affected international economic patterns.
E. Analyze how United States consumers and producers participate in the global production and consumption of goods or services.
F. Evaluate how trade is influenced by comparative advantage and opportunity costs.
G. Evaluate characteristics and distribution of international economic activities.
6.5 Work and Earnings
A. Analyze the factors influencing wages.
B. Evaluate how changes in education, incentives, technology and capital investment alter productivity.
C. Analyze the costs and benefits of organizing a business as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
D. Analyze the role of profits and losses in the allocation of resources in a market economy.
E. Compare distribution of wealth across nations.
F. Assess the impact of entrepreneurs on the economy.
G. Analyze the risks and returns of various investments.
H. Evaluate benefits and costs of changes in interest rates to individuals and society.
Click here to return to the Secondary Social Studies Home Page