Course Outline

Year-at-a-Glance 

1st Semester

Unit I - Period 1: 1491-1607 (5-6 days)

We will concentrate on three broad areas of study in Unit One: characteristics of pre-Columbian, Native American societies, the Columbian Exchange and the convergence of European, African and Native American societies.  

Unit II - Period 2: 1607-1754 (10-12 days)

This unit will focus on the conflicts and compromises brought about as the three worlds we discussed in Unit One collided.  We will discuss the factors that lead to the regional differences and similarities between the colonies.  Students will be asked to view the colonial experience from several perspectives… some that may feel alien and uncomfortable.  The historical and social impact of mercantilism, the Great Awakening, and the Enlightenment will each be examined from multiple points-of-view.

Unit III - Period 3: 1754-1800 (12-15 days)

This very significant unit will focus on the founding of our country and the birth of our national identity.  We will gain a 360-degree understanding of the events leading up to the Revolution and the formation of our first government under the Articles of Confederation.  The “Critical Period” will be a significant element of our study as we learn more about the basis for our Constitution and it’s impact on all Americans.

Unit IV - Period 4: 1800-1848 (10-12 days)

It’s difficult to determine and articulate the “focus” of Unit 4.  The Unit covers a wide array of economic, cultural, territorial, demographic and social changes.  America was growing and with growth comes discomfort and struggle.  We will try to gain perspective on some of these key issues: Federal government power,  westward migration, anti-Indian policies, nativism, industrial growth and sectionalism.  We will consider slavery and try to understand all sides of a very divisive issue.

Unit V - Period 5: 1844-1877 (12-15 days)

The first thing you may notice about this period is the overlap with Period IV.  It is NOT a typographical error.  Historical periods can’t be measured on a strict timeline and students need to understand that we’re studying more than a series of events associated with particular points in time.  We will study the causes and effects of the Civil War and the impact it had on EVERY aspect of the “American Experience.”  Specific attention will be focused on pre-war sectionalism, the war itself, reconstruction (the good, the bad and the very ugly), civil rights, and the “Civil War Amendments.” The successes and failures of the “Women’s Movement” during the mid 19th century will be a point of discussion.

2nd Semester

Unit VI - Period 6: 1865-1898 (10-12 days)

This unit covers the transformation of America from a predominantly rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial society — a transformation that led to economic, political, diplomatic, social, environmental, and cultural changes. It deals with the rise of big business and organized labor, domestic and foreign migrations, and the agricultural revolution that accompanied the industrial revolution. Both the agricultural and industrial revolutions led to greater opportunities for immigrants, minorities, and women, but at the same time there were still many societal inequalities that needed to be addressed. Cultural and intellectual movements that challenged the social and economic order of the Gilded Age are also included.

Unit VII - Period 7: 1890-1945 (20-25 days) (This Unit will have multiple Modules with incremental assessments)  This unit focuses on how an increasingly ethnically diverse United States began its rise to world power status and, along the way, dealt with the expansion of federal power to meet the challenges of a new century (Progressivism), World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. During this time period American society was greatly transformed.

Unit VIII - Period 8: 1945-1980 (14-16 days) (This Unit will have multiple Modules with incremental assessments)  The United States became a superpower after World War II, and this new status led to changing political and economic responsibilities at home and abroad and a changing social climate in the United States Topics covered include the Cold War and its impact on domestic and foreign affairs; causes of conflict in the Middle East; the civil rights movement; and the rapid economic, demographic, and technological changes that led to significant political and moral debates.

Unit IX - Period 9: 1980-Present (8-10 days)

This unit covers the rise of the conservative movement and the impact of globalization. Students will also look at the foreign policy of presidents from Ronald Reagan to the present and the impact of the “war on terror.”