About A.P. U.S. History

Course Description.

The first thing to keep in mind is the "Advanced Placement" course designation means that the course is taught using a college text and students are required to do college-level work.

As such, grading is much tougher and the work load is significantly higher than regular high school courses.

We will build on the concepts and materials learned in our 9th grade U.S.History I course. Approximately two-thirds of the A.P. U.S. History curriculum will focus on completing the chronological examination of U.S.history from the post-Reconstruction era to modern times. Each seven-day class cycle will be used to teach the information and concepts in a chapter of their text and will culminate with an exam with AP-level multiple-choice questions and essays.

Late in the second semester, we will explore a number of important and overriding themes that span the breadth of United States history. The CollegeBoard has identified key themes and this course will use some of them as its underlying organizing structure for this semester. We will concentrate on review and taking practice exams for the A.P. exam in May. It is expected that all students enrolled in AP US History will take the A.P. test.

Throughout the year, extensive use of primary documents, outside readings, and audio/visual materials will supplement the selected core textbook by Henretta. There will be a number of projects and student-directed activities throughout the course.

Course Outline: Quarters 1, 2, 3: The United States after Reconstruction

Q1: Introduction to the AP, Westward Expansion, Industrialization, Immigration, Progressivism.

Q2: Imperialism, WWI, 1920’s and Depression, WWII, Cold War.

Q3: Post-War Middle Class, Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam and Counterculture, Conservative Resurgence, Global Economics, Post-9/11 World

Q4: Review of US History 1500-1890, preparation for the AP Exam, Memorial Day Assembly, Final AP research project.