Embedded Files
The seven course themes below present areas of historical inquiry that should be investigated at various points throughout the course and revisited as manifested in particular historical developments over time. These themes articulate at a broad level the main ideas that are developed throughout the entire span of the course. Each theme includes a list of related key topics as well as a description.
The key concepts were derived from an explicit consideration of these themes, with the goal of making the themes more concrete for the course content within each historical period. This clear connection between themes and key concepts means students can put what is particular about one historical period into a larger framework. In this way, the themes facilitate cross-period questions and help students recognize broad trends and processes that have developed over decades in the United States.
Migration & Settlement
-Movement to, from & within the U.S.
-Nativism
-Causes & Effects of People movement
-Demography
-Debates over immigration
America in the World
-Cooperation & Competition
-Foreign Policy/Diplomacy
-Expansionism/Imperialism
-Globalization
-Global Conflicts
-Motivations as World Actors
-Military and economic involvement in Developing World
Geography & Environment
-Climate
-Geography
-Environment, natural & man-made
-Human Environment Interaction
-Natural Resources
-Exchanges: Plants, disease, animals
-Conservation
Politics & Power
-Constitution/Interpretation
-Role of the state in society
-Political Parties
-Government
-Struggles over Federalism
-Liberty / Rights / Democracy
-Citizenship
-Authority/Power
Identity: American & National
-Who is an American? -Democracy
-Individualism -Freedom/Liberty
-Changes as a result of internal conflicts
-Relationship among different groups
-Regions -Nationalism/Patriotism
-Group Identities -Assimilation
Economy: WXT
-Agriculture -Trade patterns/Exchange
-Commerce/Trade -Innovation
-Manufacturing -Transportation
-Labor Systems -Transportation
-Ways of Working -Technology
-Labor & Social Class -Industrialization
-Econ developments -Regulation
-Land Distribution -Globalization
Capitalism, Free Markets, Socialism, Communism
Society & Culture
-Religious Groups & Ideas
-Artistic Ideas
-Philosophical Ideas
-Scientific Ideas
-Morality, Moral Values
-Women’s Rights & Gender Roles
-Group Identities: race, ethnic, class, regional, etc.
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