US History

Description

The United States began as an experiment in freedom and democracy. Since its establishment, the country and its people have endured social, political and economic revolutions. In this course, students will investigate the people, events and ideas that have shaped the United States from the end of the Civil War through today. Students are asked to analyze and evaluate decisions made by political, business and military leaders. Emphasis is placed on connections between events of the past and present. This course also gives students the opportunity to conduct research and apply their learning to current, real-world problems. 

Major Topics and Concepts

Semester 1:

Understanding the chronological order of historical events
Understanding the connections between historical events
Generating inferences around historical events
Purpose and application of various maps
Six Essential Elements of Geography
Interpreting Primary and Secondary sources
Civil War
Reconstruction
Westward Expansion
Industrial Revolution
Populism
Push and Pull Factors of Immigration
Social Reform
Imperialism
World War One
The Roaring Twenties
The Great Depression

Semester 2:

World War Two
Cold War
Korean War
Vietnam War
Civil Rights Movement
1970s
1980s
1990s
The Millennium
Terrorism