US History A

Course Description

The purpose of this core course is to help students make connections between what they learn about the past and the present to understand how and why events happen and people act in certain ways. We want to gain a better understanding of America's beginnings so that we can use and transition the information learned into what is happening in the world today. Students will examine the evolution of the American Identity by looking at cultural differences and how they influence various groups. Students will also gain knowledge of the political sphere and how it has developed across the US.

Revolution & A new nation

Learn this: I will understand why the American colonists fought for independence and how the ideas of the Revolution shaped a new nation and still influence us today so that I can better understand my rights and responsibilities as a citizen.

Do this: I will create a project that shows I can:

Explain key causes of the American Revolution, including taxation without representation, restrictive laws, and military conflict, and how these influenced colonial resistance.
Interpret the main ideas of founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and how they addressed colonial grievances.
Compare revolutionary ideals to modern social or political movements to understand how principles like liberty, representation, and self-governance are still relevant today.
Apply concepts of liberty, representation, and self-governance to current ideas.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

Expansion & reform

Learn this: I will understand the motivations, challenges, and consequences of westward expansion and reform movements in 19th-century America, and connect these historical developments to issues and reforms in modern society so that I can recognize when change is needed and how to make it happen.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I can:

Explain the motivations behind westward expansion, including the influence of Manifest Destiny and economic opportunity.
Analyze the challenges settlers faced and the conflicts that arose—especially with Native American tribes—as a result of expansion.
Describe key 19th-century reform movements (such as abolition, women’s rights, and economic reform) and the problems they addressed.
Apply concepts from the Progressive and Populist era and the ideas of Manifest Destiny to problems we see today.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

civil war & reconstruction

Learn this: I will understand why Americans went to war, how the war changed the nation, and how efforts to rebuild after the war can help us address conflict and division today so that I can learn how to bring people together and respond to conflict with courage and compassion.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I can:

Explain the causes, key events, and major outcomes of the Civil War, including the roles of slavery, states' rights, and significant battles.
Summarize the goals, policies, successes, and challenges of Reconstruction, including the impact of the 13th–15th Amendments.
Compare historical divisions during the Civil War and Reconstruction to current societal conflicts and tensions.
Apply strategies of conflict resolution and reconciliation from this era to problems we see today.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

industrial age

Learn this: I will understand how the rise of large companies during the Industrial Age created both opportunities and challenges, and how Americans responded through reform and activism, so that I can become a thoughtful leader and innovator in solving today’s economic and social challenges.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I can:

Describe how large companies contributed to innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
Identify the challenges and concerns that emerged for workers, consumers, and small businesses.
Explain how individuals, labor movements, and government reforms responded to the changes brought by industrialization.
Evaluate the lasting impact of Industrial Age business practices and reforms on modern society and the economy.
Apply strategies of political reform and worker demonstration from this era to help solve problems we see today.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

Page updated

Report abuse