These goal statements establish general expectations of what New Hampshire students should know and be able to do in the social studies at the end-of-grade twelve. They were drawn from the goals established in the New Hampshire Minimum Standards for Public School Approval (Concord: State Board and Department of Education, 1993). These broad goals will be attained as students acquire the knowledge, concepts, skills, and processes set forth under each of the organizing strands presented in this curriculum framework.

• Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles, organization, and operation of government at all levels in the United States.

• Students will understand and accept the responsibilities of citizenship and share in the rights and benefits granted to citizens as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire.

• Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of economic concepts, including the American system of economics and its contributions to the development of our nation.

• Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the geography of New Hampshire, the United States, and the world and understand the impact of geography on political, economic, and social developments.

• Students will demonstrate an awareness of and concern for the ways that the world's people, resources, and environments are interrelated and interdependent.

• Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the history of their community, New Hampshire, the United States, Western civilization, and the world, including the contributions of famous men and women, ordinary citizens, and groups of people.

• Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of and appreciation for the heritage of our nation, including its ideals, principles, institutions, and collective experiences.

• Students will be able to read and examine narratives, documents, and other evidence of the past to clarify, illustrate, or elaborate upon their understanding of history.

• Students will be able to examine cause and effect, review chronologies, consider ideas, and analyze trends in order to understand the past and the present and prepare for the future.

• Students will be able to use the knowledge, skills, principles, and ideals of civics and government, economics, geography, history, and other fields of the social studies to understand and address contemporary problems and issues.