United States History—Syllabus
Course Design:
This course is designed to provide a college-level experience and preparation for the AP Exam. An emphasis is placed on interpreting documents, mastering a significant body of factual information, and writing critical essays. Topics include, but are not limited to, America before the European arrival, colonial America, the revolutionary spirit, framing the Constitution, Jeffersonian Democracy, early industrialism, Jacksonian Democracy, Westward Expansion, the Civil War, both World Wars, the Depression and New Deal, the Cold War, and America in the 21st Century.
In addition to the topics listed above, the course will emphasize a series of key themes throughout the year. These themes have been determined by the College Board as essential to a comprehensive study of United States history. These themes will include discussions of American diversity, the development of a unique American identity, the evolution of American culture, demographic changes over the course of American history, economic trends and transformations, environmental issues, the development of political institutions and the components of citizenship, social reform movements, the role of religion in the making of the United States, the history of slavery and its legacies in this hemisphere, war and diplomacy, and finally, the place of the United States in an increasingly global arena. The course will trace these themes throughout the year, emphasizing the ways in which they are interconnected and examining the ways in which each helps to shape the changes over time that are so important to understanding Unites States history.
Also, this course is designed to examine the meaning and process of expansionism in American history during the 19th and 20th centuries. Through independent and collaborative research, in-class debates, the analysis of primary documents, and standard course work, expansionism will be discussed and debated to encourage not only the thinking conceptually about the American past, but also this country’s change over time.
Course Objectives:
Students will be able to-
* Accurately assess the political history of the United States from the beginning of English
colonization to the present.
· Accurately assess the impact of ideas on society’s development.
· Describe the social heritage and economic growth of the United States.
· Assess the role of the United States in foreign and domestic affairs.
· Be efficient in historiography.
Textbook:
Brinkley, Alan. American History: A Survey. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2009.
Supplemental Reading:
Skousen, W. Cleon. The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle that Changed the World. USA: National Center for Constitutional Studies, 2009.
Grading:
Marking Period Grade are comprised of the following: Tests—55%, Essays (and other written assignments)—40%, Chapter Study Questions--5% and the Final Exam—11.2% of the overall course grade. All DBQs and Free-Response Essays will be typed, double-spaced, and include a cover sheet unless otherwise directed. Essays will vary in length depending on the topic and will be graded on content, use of supporting evidence, grammar, spelling, and evidence of critical thinking.
Anticipated Timeline;
The following readings and corresponding Study Questions will be completed before the beginning of the week during which they will be discussed. Test dates, DBQs, Debates, and Free-Response Writing Assignments are tentative and any changes will be announced well in advance.
August 23
Chapter 1 The Collision of Cultures—America before Columbus, Europe looking west, the arrival of the English
Chapter 2 Transplantations and Borderlands—The early Chesapeake, the growth of New England, the Restoration Colonies, borderlands and middle grounds, the evolution of the British Empire
Chapter 3 Society and Culture in Provincial America—the colonial population, the colonial economies, patterns of society, awakenings and enlightenments
** Unit Test Chapters 1-3 August 31
DBQ—Clash of Cultures. Due September 1.
August 30
Chapter 4 The Empire in Transition—loosening ties, the struggle for the continent, the new imperialism, stirrings of revolt, cooperation and war
Free-Response Essay—A minimum of 2 pages addressing your reaction to the Foreword and
Introduction of The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle that Changed the World. Due September 3.
September 6
Chapter 5 The American Revolution—the states united, the War for Independence, war and society, the creation of state government, the search for a national government
In-Class Debate—“Should We Revolt?” Come prepared to argue for either side of the debate.
September 8.
** Unit Test Chapters 4-5 September 10
September 13
Chapter 6 The Constitution and the New Republic—framing a new government, Federalists and Republicans, establishing national sovereignty, the downfall of the Federalists
Primary Source Evaluation, Analysis, and Interpretation—Washington’s Farewell Address. In
class discussion on September 15. (A copy of the letter can be found at http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/farewell/sd106-21.pdf)
September 20
Chapter 7 The Jeffersonian Era—the rise of cultural nationalism, stirrings of industrialism, Jefferson the President, doubling the national domain, expansion and war, the War of 1812
DBQ—Ratifying the Constitution. Due September 22.
September 27
Chapter 8 Varieties of American Nationalism—a growing economy, the “Era of Good Feelings,” sectionalism and nationalism, the revival of opposition
** Unit Test Chapters 6-8 October 15
October 4
Chapter 9 Jacksonian America—the rise of mass politics, “Our Federal Union,” the removal of the Indians, Jackson and the Bank War, the changing face of American politics
October 11
Chapter 10 America’s Economic Revolution—the changing American population, transportation, communication, and technology, commerce and industry, men and women at work, patterns of industrial society, the agricultural north
** Unit Test Chapters 9-10 October 14
October 18
Chapter 11 Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South—the cotton economy, white society in the south, the “peculiar institution,” the culture of slavery
DBQ—Slavery and its Defenders. Due November 18.
October 25
Chapter 12 Antebellum Culture and Reform—the Romantic impulse, remaking society, the crusade against slavery
November 1
Chapter 13 The Impending Crisis—looking westward, expansion and war with Mexico, the sectional debate, the crises of the 1850s
** Unit Test Chapters 11-13 November 5.
November 8
Chapter 14 The Civil War—the secession crisis, mobilization of the North, mobilization of the South, strategy and diplomacy, the course of battle
Primary Source Evaluation and Analysis—The Gettysburg Address. In-class discussion on
November 10. (A copy of the speech can be found at
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=36)
November 15
Chapter 15 Reconstruction and the New South—the problems of peacemaking, radical reconstruction, the South during Reconstruction, the Grant administration, abandoning Reconstruction, the new South
**Unit Test Chapters 14-15 November 19.
November 22
Chapter 16 The Conquest of the West—the societies of the far west, the changing western economy, the romance of the west, dispersal of the tribes, the rise and decline of the western farmer
December 1
Chapter 17 Industrial Supremacy—sources of industrial growth, capitalism and the critics, industrial workers in the new economy
Primary Source Evaluation and Analysis—Speech by Eugene V. Debs. In-class discussion on
December 3. (A copy of the speech can be found at
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5658/)
December 6
Chapter 18 The Age of the City—the urbanization of America, the urban landscape, strains of urban life, the rise of mass consumption, leisure in the consumer society, high culture in the age of the city
December 13
Chapter 19 From Crisis to Empire—the politics of equilibrium, the agrarian revolt, the crisis of the 1890s, “A Cross of Gold,” stirrings of imperialism, war with Spain, the republic as empire
DBQ—The Farmers’ Revolt. Due December 15.
** Unit Test Chapters 17-19 December 17
Free-Response Essay—A minimum of 4 pages addressing your reaction to Part I:
“Structuring a Government with All Power in the People” The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle
that Changed the World. Due December 21.
January 3
Chapter 20 The Progressives—the progressive impulse, women and reform, the assault on the parties, sources of progressive reform, challenging the capitalist order, Theodore Roosevelt and the modern Presidency, the troubled succession, Woodrow Wilson and the new freedom
In-Class Debate—“Does the Spanish-American War violate the Monroe Doctrine?” Come
prepared to argue for either side of the debate. January 5.
January 10
Chapter 21 America and the Great War—the “Big Stick,” the road to war, “war without stint,” the war and American society, the search for social unity, the search for a new world order, a society in turmoil
** Unit Test Chapters 20-21 January 14
January 17
Chapter 22 The “New Era”—the new economy, the new culture, a conflict of cultures, republican government
DBQ—A National Clash of Cultures in the 1920s. Due January 19.
January 24
Chapter 23 The Great Depression—the coming of the depression, the American people in hard times, the Depression and the American culture, the unhappy Presidency of Herbert Hoover
January 31
Chapter 24 The New Deal—launching the New Deal, the New Deal in transition, the New Deal in Disarray, limits and legacies of the New Deal
** Unit Test Chapter 22-24 February 9
February 7
Chapter 25 The Global Crisis—the diplomacy of the new era, isolationism and internationalism, from neutrality to intervention
In-Class Debate—“Isolationism vs. Intervention?” Come prepared to argue for either side of the
debate. February 9.
February 14
Chapter 26 America in a World War—war on two fronts, the American people in wartime, the defeat of the Axis
** Unit Test Chapters 25-26 February 25
February 28
Chapter 27 The Cold War—origins of the Cold War, the collapse of peace, American society and politics after the war, the Korean War, the crusade against subversion
In-Class Debate—“Does the Truman Doctrine Violate the Constitution?” Come prepared to argue
for either side of the debate. March 2.
March 7
Chapter 28 The Affluent Society—“The Economic Miracle,” the explosion of science and technology, people of plenty, the “Other America,” the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, Eisenhower Republicanism, Eisenhower, Dulles, and the Cold War
** Unit Test Chapters 27-28 March 11
March 14
Chapter 29 Civil Rights, Vietnam, and the Ordeal of Liberalism—expanding the liberal state, the battle for racial equality, “Flexible Response” and the Cold War, the agony of Vietnam, the traumas of 1968
Primary Source Evaluation and Analysis—King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. In-class discussion on March 16. (A copy of the speech can be found at http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html)
March 21
Chapter 30 The Crisis of Authority—the youth culture, the mobilization of minorities, the new feminism, environmentalism in a turbulent society, Nixon, Kissinger, and the war, Nixon, Kissinger, and the world, politics and economics under Nixon, the Watergate crisis
** Unit Test Chapters 29-30 March 25
March 28
Chapter 31 From the “Age of Limits” to the Age of Reagan—politics and diplomacy after Watergate, the rise of the new American right, the “Reagan Revolution,” America and the waning of the Cold War
Primary Source Evaluation and Analysis—Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech. In-class discussion on March 30. (A copy of the speech can be found at http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm)
April 4
Chapter 32 The Age of Globalization—a resurgence of partisanship, the economic boom, science and technology in the new economy, a changing society, a contested culture, the perils of globalization
Due May 20.
April 11—Begin Review for AP Exam
May 6—AP Exam
May 13—Final (Exam) Paper Due
May 20—Free-Response Essay—A summary of the 28 principles and your reaction to Part II:
“The Founders’ Basic Principles” The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle
that Changed the World.