Students in seventh grade social studies focus on United States History from 1865 to present day. Major topics include Reconstruction, post-Civil War industrialization, immigration, the Progressive Era, the two World Wars, the Cold War era, the Civil Rights Movement, and the modern United States. Students examine the past through the lenses of civics, economics, and geography. Students learn about change and continuity in our history by examining a wide variety of primary and secondary sources that lay the foundation of American ideals and institutions. They learn about famous Americans, the daily lives or ordinary citizens in the past, and the causes and consequences of major events by applying the critical thinking skills used by actual historians. This course is based on Standards of Learning from the Virginia Department of Education.