U.S. History
Mr. Rhoades
Craigr@psdschools.org
Classroom: P115
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Perhaps in no other discipline does the adage “the past is prologue” apply as clearly as in history. United States History is a chronological survey of the events and people that characterize the major eras in American history. The course analyzes the political, social, economic, religious, and military issues that formed our nation. Major course objectives are to develop an awareness and understanding of the history of all Americans, and to achieve the informed citizenship essential to effective participation in the democratic process of government.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To acquire a measurable knowledge of United States history. Specifically, to analyze the economic, political, social and cultural customs which comprise the United States.
To enhance literacy and critical thinking skills through lecture-discussion, debate, simulations, and reading and writing assignments.
To formulate the tools necessary for students to critically analyze historical interpretation and the role of a historian. This includes evaluating the ideas, institutions, values and conflicts in U.S. history and interpreting how they continue to affect the lives and communities today.
To increase citizenship awareness and stimulate one’s desire to participate in the democratic process.
ESSENTIAL LEARNINGS:
By the end of the year, students will be able to analyze in a historical context the causes and effects of major events in American history, and the implications of these for the future of our nation. Major eras include:
Unit 1 - Origins of A New Nation - prehistory-1783*: Three Worlds Collide, Colonization, and the War for Independence
Unit 2 - Creating the American Republic - 1783-1816: U.S. Constitution, Jeffersonian democracy, and the War of 1812
Unit 3 - Expansion and Reform - 1812-1860: Nationalism and Sectionalism, Jacksonian democracy, Reform and Western Expansion
Unit 4 - Civil War and Reconstruction - 1846-1877: Union in Crisis, the Civil War and Reconstruction
Unit 5 - Industrialization of the United States 1865-1914: Industrialization, Immigration and Urbanization, The South and West Transformed, Issues of the Gilded Age (Populist Movement)
Unit 6 - Emergence of the Modern United States - 1890-1920: the Progressive Era (end of 1st Semester), An Emerging World Power, and World War I and its effects
Unit 7 - Prosperity and Depression - 1919-1941: The Twenties (Politics and the Roaring Life of the 1920’s), The Great Depression and The New Deal
Unit 8 - World War II and Postwar America - 1931-1960: The Coming of War, WWII, The Cold War and 1950s (Postwar Confidence and Anxiety)
Unit 9 - Challenges and Change - 1945-1980: Civil Rights Movement, The Kennedy and The Johnson Years, The Vietnam War Era and An Era of Protest and Social Change, A Crisis in Confidence (Age of Limits: Nixon-Carter)
Unit 10 - Changing and Enduring Issues - 1980-Today: The Conservative Resurgence and Modern America
COURSE CONTENT:
The course text is United States History by Prentice Hall, and will be supplemented by a range of primary and secondary sources, lectures, historical multimedia materials, independent and cooperative research projects and visuals. Assessment will include unit exams, chapter quizzes, writing assignments, in-class projects and oral participation. Students may also access the text online which allows them to listen to the text, watch videos, and use interactive maps and graphic organizers.
COURSE INSTRUCTION:
The course will be taught using a variety of methodologies, including lecture and discussion, and independent and/or small-group research, analysis and presentation. Student participation in the process of historical query will be a major component of both classroom instruction and assessment.
GRADES:
100% - 90% = A
89% - 80% = B
79% - 70% = C
69% - 60% = D
Below 60% = F
If you get below 60% in the class you will have to take U.S. History again in order to graduate.
GRADE WEIGHTS:
Work Habit - 20%
Assignments - 40%
Assessments - 40%
ASSIGNMENTS & HOMEWORK:
Assignments that you were not able to complete in class will turn into homework. Most classes you will be able to finish the activities in class if you are engaged and working hard.
LATE AND MISSING WORK POLICY:
Everything we do for this class is extremely important. Much of it can and will be completed in class. If, for whatever reason, you miss an assignment you will have the entire unit to complete the assignment and turn it in for FULL CREDIT. Yea, you’re welcome. Once that unit is over, I will accept late work for 50% credit.
WORK HABIT: Every student begins with 100 Professionalism Points. With these professionalism points students are expected to arrive at class on-time, prepared, participate, actively engage with the material, respecting their classmates and teacher, and by upholding the FCHS Pillars of Excellence. Students will lose professionalism points for interrupting or talking over the teacher or classmates, by disrupting the learning environment, by using a cell phone at an inappropriate time, by arriving late to class, by being unprepared, or by generally failing to uphold the FCHS Pillars of Excellence.
CELL PHONE POLICY:
If you are on your phone when classmates or myself are taking it for the remainder of the class period after 1 warning. If it is during an individual work time, you may have it out if it is not being a distraction to yourself. However, you can put your cell phone in the caddy on the wall for the period for extra credit. 4pts of extra credit on block days, 2 pts of extra credit on straight 8 days. (Approx. 10pts a week) - IT ADDS UP!
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Each student is required to do his/her own work. Plagiarism and/or cheating (copying is cheating) will not be tolerated, and if detected, will result in disciplinary referral and action and a 0 for the assignment for all students involved. The Fort Collins Student Handbook outlines the consequences for cheating and plagiarism, and the instructor will, with the assistance of an administrator, implement the policy.