Assuming the role of a political advisor to a specific 19^th century reform movement, each student can write a position paper evaluating the effectiveness of their selected movement in influencing the enactment of public policies, and recommending citizen actions that might have made the reform movement more effective.

2010 NAEP Civics Item:

A bill has been proposed in the United States Congress that would help solve a problem you feel very strongly about. What are two specific actions you could take as a private citizen to help ensure that the bill becomes law?

2010 NAEP U.S. History Item:

The town meetings of the New England colonies were gatherings where

2010 NAEP Civics Item:

The following question is based on the passage below.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. . . . Resolved, that all laws which prevent women from occupying such a station in society as her conscience shall dictate, or which place her in a position inferior to that of man, are contrary to the great precept of nature, and therefore of no force or authority.
—Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, July 19-20, 1848

The people who wrote the passage were most likely

2010 NAEP Civics Item:

Near the end of an election campaign, a poll shows that an issue that no candidate has mentioned is of great concern to voters. What is most likely to happen?

2006 NAEP Civics Item:

The following question refers to the situation below.

Amanda and her friends have noticed these two problems in their neighborhood.
Problem 1: The garbage cans in the public park are overflowing.
Problem 2: Many younger children have trouble crossing the busy streets on their way home from school.

What is one thing Amanda and her friends could do on their own to help solve Problem 1?
What is one thing Amanda and her friends could do on their own to help solve Problem 2?