The Advanced Placement United States History course is designed for students who are judged ready for the rigors of college-level work two years ahead of the traditional time. Students analyze the causes of the American Revolution, the unique documents (Declaration of Independence and the Constitution etc.) that have shaped American freedoms, and the challenges faced by a new country. Students chart the growth of the U.S. and analyze the conflicts that eventually led to the Civil War and its aftermath. Particular attention is paid to the various interest groups that make up the American mosaic. As the students learn about the many reform movements and industrial developments of the 19th Century, they interpret the significance of technology and its impact on America’s indigenous people. In the20th century. Students observe and interpret the emergence of the U.S. as a world power and its relationship with the rest of the world.
College texts and primary source documents are used extensively throughout the year to challenge students’ critical thinking and document analysis skills. In addition to the core text, students are exposed to a multitude of other resources and perspectives. Unique interpretations based on documented history, critical evaluations, and the works of a variety of historians are emphasized. Students are exposed to the literature, music, art, and architecture that have impacted American culture throughout history as a means of obtaining a broad based knowledge of our nation’s heritage. Students are required to read and write both widely and intensively, beginning in the summer prior to their junior year.
COURSE GOALS
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