HONORS UNITED STATES HISTORY
2009-2010 COURSE SYLLABUS AND COURSE OUTLINE
*Target DatesUnits of Study and Topics
* Target dates are approximate time references that may increase or decrease depending of school activities and events in the school calendar. The last two weeks of school are designated to be review for the final exam. We will try to speed up to allow additional time for Final exam review when possible
Aug. 25-Sept. 4Introductions, Orientation, Overview and Review
Unit P1: Review
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 1 and 2.1
Goals and Objectives:
1. Review early American History from Pre-Columbus to the Revolution
2. Identify main factors leading to colonization
3. Identify similarities and differences of the original 13 colonies
4. List the main factors leading toward independence
5. Review basic note-taking and writing skills needed for US History
Sept. 8-Sept. 23Unit One: A New Nation Emerges
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 2.2 and 2.3
Approximately 11 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Identify, investigate and assess the effectiveness of a new nation’s political, economic and social institutions
2. Classify and categorize domestic issues and conflicts faced by the nation
during the early development (Federalist Period).
3. Analyze the political freedoms and social issues faced by Americans prior
to 1820 with a special emphasis on women, Native Americans and African Americans
4. Identify the major commercial, diplomatic and international challenges for a new country
Sept. 24- Oct. 12Unit Two: The Nation Expands & Grows
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapter 3, sections 3.1-3.3
Approximately 13 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Analyze the forces behind expansion and its competing forces on national policies such as sectionalism and nationalism
2. Evaluate the efforts of territorial expansion on national politics from 1800 to 1850 and its increasing tensions as new states join the union
3. Investigate nationalism’s impact on art, music and American culture
4. Compare and contrast nationalism and sectionalism with regard to economic and social issues
5. Identify key events and personalities that contributed to sectional and national identity
6. Evaluate the effectiveness of early reform efforts
7. Investigate the role of religion on American reform efforts and social issues
Oct. 13-Oct. 30Unit Three: Crisis, Sectional Divisions, Civil War and Reconstruction
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 3.4, and chapters 4-5
Approximately 12 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Analyze and evaluate the issues that led to the Civil War, thee effects
of war on American society and the impact of political Reconstruction
2. Trace the economic, social and political events from 1820 to 1860
3. List the primary causes of the Civil War
4. Investigate and identify the primary military events and campaigns and their
significance to the outcome of the war
5. Outline the major economic, political and social impact of Reconstruction
6. Evaluate the role of the Civil War and Reconstruction on social reform
Nov 2-Nov.4Reteach, Review, Practice and Evaluate Unit One through Unit 3
Nov 5 -Nov 18Unit Four: Westward Ho!-The Great West Migration
Primary Text:America: Pathways to the Present, Chapter 7
Approximately 10 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Evaluate the Great Westward Migration with respect to economic, social and political developments of the late 19th century
2. Compare and contrast migration’s effects on various Americans social groups and identify problems they faced
3. Evaluate the impact of Westward Migration on the environment
4. Identify problems and issues faced by the Western farmer
5. Evaluate the role of the Populist Movement on the American political scene
6. Describe and evaluate the innovations in agricultural technology on the development of the West
Nov 19-Dec. 7Unit Five: Industrialization and Urbanization
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapter 6 and chapter 8
Approximately 10 days study
Goals and objectives:
1. Describe the innovations in business practices and the role of government on political, social and economic life in America around the turn of the century
2. Evaluate the impact of immigration on American society and industrial growth
3. Identify business practices that led to the accumulation of great wealth,
economic dominance and political influence
4. Investigate the major factors leading to labor unrest and a rise in labor unions
5. Identify changes in government practices in economic, social and political affairs
Dec. 8- Dec 22Unit Six: Imperialism: American Enters the World Stage
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapter 10
Approximately 10 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Analyze the causes and effects of the US role in international affairs and its emergence as a world power
2. Identify the world issues that led to American involvement in world affairs
3. Identify America’s role in military, economic and political involvement in
international influence
Jan. 4-Jan 6Reteach, Review, Practice and Evaluate Unit Four through Unit Six
Jan. 7- Jan 29Unit Seven: Progressivism and Social Reforms of the Early 20th Century
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 9 and 11
Approximately 13 days study…additional days due to mid-term exams
Goals and Objectives:
1. Evaluate the Progressive Reforms on economic, political and social issues
2. Identify the key factors leading to progressive reform efforts
3. Analyze the effect of reforms on the various ethnic/social groups in American society
4. Examine the impact of racial segregation on American society
5. Identify the technological advancements of the era and its impact on
economic, social and cultural life
Feb 1- Feb 11Unit Eight: The War to End All Wars: World War I
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 12
Approximately 9 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Analyze how America’s role in international events led to war and
investigate the impact of war on American society
2. Identify the factors that moved American from isolation to involvement
3. Examine the primary battles and campaigns of World War I and their
significance to the war’s outcome
4. Assess the political, economic, social and cultural repercussions of the war on American life
Feb 12-March 9 Unit Nine: Boom and Bust: From Prosperity to Depression
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 13-16
Approximately 15 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Appraise the economic, social and political changes of the 1920’s
and the 1930’s
2. Analyze business cycles and their impact in history
3. Investigate the impact of prosperity and bust of segments of society with
relation to social, technological and intellectual changes in lifestyles
4. Identify challenges the Great Depression presented to traditional American society regarding religion, race and gender
5. Identify the changing roles of American Government
March 10- April 9Unit Ten: World War II and Its Aftermath
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 17-20
Approximately 15 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Analyze factors leading to World War II and the influences of the war on
international affairs
2. Identify the major causes of World War II
3. Evaluate the major battles and campaigns of the war and their significance to its outcome
4. Analyze the war’s impact on American economic, social, political and cultural life
5. Identify major changes in US international diplomacy and foreign policy with a special emphasis on the Cold War Era
6. Evaluate the peace organization’s effectiveness
April 12 -May 7 Unit Eleven: Recovery, Prosperity and Turmoil
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present, Chapters 20-25.1-25.3
Approximately 15 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Trace the economic, political, and social developments of post-war society
and assess their significance to American thought
2. Describe the Cold War’s impact on economic, social and political life in America
3. Identify the key persons and events of the Civil Rights Movement
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Civil Rights, youth involvement, environmental concern and Women’s Movements on American society
5. Analyze the factors leading to American involvement in Vietnam and the consequences of US involvement
6. Identify the key technological, scientific and cultural advancements of the era
7. Identify political events and the actions/reactions of American citizens and government and analyze the social and political consequences of these actions
May 10-May 21Unit Twelve: Modern America: From Vietnam to Today
Primary Text: America: Pathways to the Present,Chapters 25.4, 25.5, 26-27
Approximately 11 days study
Goals and Objectives:
1. Identify and analyze key trends in American domestic and foreign policy
2. Summarize American foreign policy since Vietnam
3. Evaluate the impact of government actions (court rulings, amendments and government actions) on citizen rights
4. Identify and assess the impact of technological, economic and environmental
Issues in America
5. Identify the key social, political and cultural changes in American society since 1975
6. Assess the impact of racial and ethnic diversity on American economic, political and cultural life
7. Examine the impact terrorism has on domestic and foreign political thought
May 24-June 10Final Exam Review
Additional time for exam reviews will be scheduled for weekends and after school Following Spring Break. Students are encouraged to attend these studies and review sessions.